Governor Spitzer Nominates Tina Marie Stanford for Chair of Crime Victims Board

ALBANY, NY (06/01/2007)(readMedia)-- Governor Eliot Spitzer has nominated veteran prosecutor Tina Marie Stanford of Buffalo to serve as chairwoman of the New York State Crime Victims Board. Ms. Stanford's nomination is pending before the Senate.

Ms. Stanford, an assistant district attorney in Erie County since 1993, has worked in the city court, grand jury, domestic violence/ sexual assault and felony trial bureaus and is currently assigned to the appeals unit. In her current capacity, Ms. Stanford researches, writes and argues appeals before state and federal appellate courts.

A graduate of the Fordham University Honors Program, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Ms. Stanford earned her law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 1990. She practiced law in Buffalo prior to joining the district attorney's office.

Ms. Stanford is a member of the board of trustees of Nardin Academy and has previously held positions with the Bar Foundation of Erie County, Young Audiences of Western New York, Buffalo Inner City Ballet, the Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County and the Langston Hughes Institute in Buffalo. As a member of the Erie County Bar Association, Ms. Stanford served on the Judiciary Committee, which rates judicial candidates. She has also been an adjunct instructor at the University at Buffalo School of Law since 2004.

She has been the featured speaker at numerous public forums on criminal justice. Ms. Stanford was recognized for leadership by the YWCA in 2002 and in 1997 was selected as one of the "Forty Under 40" by Buffalo Business First magazine.

The Crime Victims Board was established in 1966. Its mission is to "provide compensation to innocent victims of crime in a timely, efficient and compassionate manner; to fund direct services to crime victims via a network of community-based programs; and to advocate for the rights and benefits of all innocent victims of crime." The board is governed by five board members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Board members are appointed for seven-year terms.

Funding for compensation to crime victims comes from a combination of state and federal monies. The state portion comes from the Criminal Justice Improvement Account, which is funded by mandatory surcharges and crime victim assistance fees assessed on certain offenders. Last year, the Crime Victims Board disbursed over $26 million to help crime victims in New York State.

"Tina Stanford is uniquely qualified by way of her education, experience, training and temperament to lead the Crime Victims Board," Governor Spitzer said. "She has worked directly with thousands of crime victims and has been extensively trained to manage the complex investigatory, litigation and psychological issues related to crimes and crime victims. I urge the Senate to confirm her nomination promptly."

Ms. Stanford, 43, lives in Buffalo with her husband, Michael Stanford, a doctoral candidate at the State University of New York at Buffalo, her children Nia, Devin, Skyler and James and grandmother Arnetta Palmer. She would be paid $101,600 as chairwoman of the Crime Victims Board.

"I am honored by the confidence Governor Spitzer has shown in me by nominating me for this crucial position," Ms. Stanford said. "I share the Governor's deep commitment to innocent victims of crime and I am eager to use my experience and background to assist this vulnerable population."

-30-