LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Seven months after the Pegasus Institute published the Louisville Violent Crime Report: Voice of the Survivors, those behind the study are hoping for action.
“Days where you get to see things you've worked on inching closer to reality are good days,” said Josh Crawford, with the Pegasus Institute.
The study highlights years of criticism from loved ones who felt shut out by the officers who are trying to find out who killed their mother, father, sibling, or child.
“We want our homicide detectives to solve homicides, we want somebody else, a victim advocate, who is trained to deal with people who have gone through trauma, who have gone through experiences like this to really guide that individual through the legal process and emotional process that they're going through,” Crawford explained.
That's why he says he's been working with Metro Council members like Jessica Green to make room in the upcoming budget for the Louisville Metro Police Department to have a unit that focuses solely on victim advocacy.
Green told WHAS 11 News on Wednesday night that she hopes the council will approve enough funding necessary to at least start the unit.
“Finally, survivors and victims of violent crimes have a voice and have some sort of resource to allocate from,” Stevonte Wood told WHAS 11 News, optimistic the action will be taken.
Wood contributed to the study last winter, leaning on the Pegasus Institute to find a solution for him and survivors like him. Now, he's doing more than contributing his story. He took a job with the Pegasus Institute and is fighting even harder for change.
“I feel as though I know the struggle, I know what people are going through out there, I hear them. The Pegasus Institute, they hear them as well so why not collaborate and join forces and ideas and make a difference,” Wood explained.
An LMPD spokesperson told WHAS 11 News that they have two full time employees already dedicated to victim advocacy, but have wanted to expand and would fully welcome the funding to do so, if approved by the council.
Metro Council members have until the end of the month to approve the 2018-19 budget.