Release: District Attorney Krasner Names New Director of Victim Witness Services Unit

CONTACT:
Jane Roh, District Attorney’s Office, 215–686–8711, Jane.Roh@phila.gov

PHILADELPHIA (January 7, 2019) — District Attorney Larry Krasner has appointed veteran victims’ services coordinator Keziah Cameron the new Director of the Victim Witness Services Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (DAO).

“Keziah Cameron has served victim witnesses for nearly 17 years and under four Philadelphia District Attorneys. Her institutional knowledge of intragovernmental services to support victims of crime and trial witnesses qualifies her to lead the Victim Witness Services Unit during a critical period of growth,” District Attorney Krasner said. “Keziah’s passion for justice and service to our communities is inspiring. I’m proud to elevate Keziah Cameron to the position of Director of the DAO Victim Witness Services Unit.”

Cameron graduated in 2002 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She has served at the DAO since 2003 when she started as an Outreach Coordinator in the Victim Witness Services Unit.

“I’m excited to take a leadership role in implementing District Attorney Krasner’s approach to addressing the needs of victims and witnesses with sensitivity, discretion, and care,” Cameron said. “Violent offenses aren’t just crimes against individuals, they are crimes against community and society. Having grown up in North Philly, I know too well the toll that gun violence and drug trafficking takes on blocks and neighborhoods, even among people who are not directly impacted. District Attorney Krasner understands the non-binary dynamic of trauma among victims, co-victims, survivors, and offenders. I am honored to do this work for the City of Philadelphia and all of our wonderful, vibrant, and, yes, challenged communities.”

In addition to improving communication between partnering city, community, and professional service organizations, Cameron is instituting the following Victim Witness Services Unit reform efforts:

• First efforts at contact with victims and witnesses occur when the defendant is charged, instead of just before trial;
• Efforts to build better relationships in the community, especially on the one-on-one, neighborhood level so Victim Witness Services becomes a name that the community trusts;
• Efforts to improve relationships with community-based organizations and victim service groups in the city; and
• Efforts to recognize and celebrate positive outcomes of the Victim Witness Services team.

Keziah Cameron was born and raised in Philadelphia. She currently resides in Southwest Philadelphia with her spouse and their child. For more information, or to contact the Victim Witness Services Unit, click here. A headshot of Cameron is available upon request.

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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of over 40,000 criminal cases annually.