Crime Victims United

08/28/2026

**𝙅𝙐𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙀 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙈𝘼𝘿𝙔𝙎𝙊𝙉 𝙈𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙇𝙀𝙏𝙊𝙉 — 𝙏𝙀𝙇𝙇 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙂𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙉𝙊𝙍 𝙏𝙊 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉 𝘼𝘽 1902!**

Madyson “Maddy” Middleton was just 8 years old when she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered by her 15-year-old neighbor in Santa Cruz in 2015.

Her family has spent more than a decade navigating a justice system that changed around them.

After changes in California law moved her killer’s case into the juvenile system, he ultimately faced release at age 25. In 2025, following an extraordinary nearly three-month detention extension trial, 12 jurors unanimously found beyond a reasonable doubt that he continued to pose a serious danger to the public.

But under current law, Madyson’s family can be forced back through this process again and again. AB 1902 was introduced to change that.

The bill addresses gaps exposed by Madyson’s case, including allowing courts to order longer periods between detention extension hearings when someone continues to present a serious danger to public safety.

Now Californians need to make their voices heard. Take a few minutes today:

• Send a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to SIGN AB 1902.
• Share the letter campaign with your friends, family and community groups.
• Post about Madyson’s story on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
• Ask others to send a letter too.

It takes only a few minutes to speak up — but hundreds and thousands of Californians speaking together can make a difference.

SEND YOUR LETTER HERE: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/supportab1902?

Madyson mattered. Her family matters. Victims and survivors matter. Let’s finish what Madyson’s family has fought more than a decade to accomplish. Tell Governor Newsom: SIGN AB 1902.

08/28/2026

LWOP means LWOP!!

The Governor's office says our lawsuit is about "political rhetoric," not public safety.

𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐃 & 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐒

Bradford “Brad” Sachs, 57, and his wife, Andra Sachs, 54, were murdered in their San Juan Capistrano home on February 9, 2014.

Their 19-year-old son, Ashton Sachs, returned to the family home while they slept and shot and killed both of his parents. He also shot their 8-year-old son, Landon, leaving him paralyzed, and fired at his teenage sister, who survived.

Ashton Sachs later pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms, including two terms of life without the possibility of parole.

Today, that sentence matters.

Brad and Andra were more than the circumstances of their deaths. They were parents, a husband and wife, and two lives that mattered to the people who loved them.

Brad and Andra Sachs are not political rhetoric. They were victims. Their lives mattered.

Faces of Victims | Criminal Justice Legal Foundation

08/26/2026

Great explanation about filing charges from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office!

08/25/2026

Placer County District Attorney's Office explains what to look for in this week's end of session! It has never been more important to pay attention!

08/24/2026

This issue is deeply unsettling, and Californians need to keep paying attention.

We are watching good, common-sense policies successfully make their way through policy committees, sometimes with broad or even unanimous support, and even pass legislative floors, only to be quietly held, significantly amended, or effectively gutted later in the process.

This latest reporting from CalMatters on major DUI reform is another troubling example. The bill had widespread support and had advanced through the process, yet a key provision was stripped through late amendments. Even the bill's author described parts of the amendment process as a "black box."

California must do better.

Survivors and everyday Californians should be able to trust that when they show up, testify, advocate, and participate in the legislative process, the process remains transparent from beginning to end. Unlike special interests, they do not have the luxury of being able to take time off work or be paid to spend every day making sure that our leaders do the right thing.

It has never been more critical to keep paying attention.

Read the CalMatters investigation:

Sabrina Cervantes' committee's "hostile amendment" gutted a major DUI reform bill with widespread support in Sacramento.

08/21/2026

We stand with the Fresno County District Attorney's Office against this act of targeted violence. There is no place in our society for these types of attacks against public servants. Our hearts are with the victims family, colleagues and loved ones.

A Fresno County Senior Deputy District Attorney was stabbed in Courthouse Park outside of the Fresno County Courthouse in downtown Fresno on Thursday.It happen

08/20/2026

𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙀𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝙈𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙇𝙞𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙧
Crime Victims United announced their endorsement of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor.

CVU President Topo Padilla explains:

“For Crime Victims United, this endorsement is personal. Fiona Ma has been an ally of Crime Victims United from the beginning. Long before she held statewide office, Fiona stood alongside victims, survivors, and advocates in the Legislature -- listening to their concerns, helping identify solutions, and understanding that good public policy begins with the people most directly affected by it.

Through the years, we have watched her leadership grow from the Legislature to statewide office, but one thing has remained consistent: Fiona Ma is a problem solver. She is willing to sit down with people from different backgrounds, different regions, and different perspectives if they share one goal: making life better for Californians.

That matters to us.

Crime victims' issues do not belong to one political party, ideology, or walk of life. They require leaders willing to listen, work across divides, tackle difficult problems, and stay focused on solutions. Fiona has demonstrated that ability throughout her career.

Today, she serves as California's 34th State Treasurer, overseeing one of the largest public finance operations in the nation after previously serving in the State Assembly and on the State Board of Equalization. Yet despite the titles and accomplishments, the Fiona Ma we have known throughout the years remains accessible, engaged, and willing to roll up her sleeves when Californians need help.

She doesn't simply identify problems. She works to solve them. At a time when California faces significant challenges, we need leaders who understand that progress requires bringing people together rather than pushing them further apart. We need leaders who are willing to listen to victims, families, businesses, public servants, and communities throughout this incredibly diverse state.

We believe Fiona Ma is that kind of leader. She understands California's challenges; she understands how state government works; and, most importantly, she has demonstrated throughout her career that she will work with anyone who genuinely wants to make the lives of California residents better.

Crime Victims United has spent decades advocating for victims and survivors and working with elected officials throughout California. We know the difference between someone who simply says the right things and someone who has consistently shown up.

Fiona Ma has shown up. She has been there for our organization, for victims and survivors, and for Californians throughout her years of public service. We know she will continue bringing that same determination, accessibility, and solution-oriented leadership to the office of Lieutenant Governor.

For her longstanding friendship with the crime victim community, her record of public service, and her unwavering commitment to making California a better place to live, work, and raise a family, Crime Victims United proudly and wholeheartedly endorses Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor of California.

We thank Fiona for standing with victims throughout the years, and we look forward to continuing that work together as she fights for all Californians. Learn more about Fiona Ma and her campaign for Lieutenant Governor at FionaMa.com.

08/18/2026

**HARRIET’S BILL ALERT: YOUR VOICE IS POWER.**

We are entering the final weeks of California’s legislative session — and some of the most consequential decisions of the year are happening right now.

Our challenge to Californians: Watch. Learn. Share.

Tune into committee hearings and floor sessions. Follow the bills that matter to you. Take screen grabs. Look at who voted — and who didn’t. Share what you are learning on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X or wherever your community gets its information.

The more people tracking and talking about these decisions, the better.

You don’t have to be a lobbyist or policy expert to participate in the legislative process. You just have to be willing to pay attention.

Another incredible resource is CalMatters’ Digital Democracy, where you can search legislation, issues, lawmakers, votes, hearings and more. It makes following what is happening inside the Capitol much easier.

Then take what you learn and empower someone else.

Because these aren't just bill numbers. These decisions can ultimately affect victims, families and communities throughout California.

Harriet has spent decades showing us what can happen when one person refuses to stop paying attention. Imagine what happens when thousands of us do the same.

Observe the bills. See the status. Share what you see. Empower others. That is our challenge.

The best policies are made when the people they affect are paying attention. View the bill list here: https://www.placer.ca.gov/10862/2026-Bill-Status

View the floor sessions here: www.placer.ca.gov/DALeg

View Cal Matters Digital Democracy here: https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/

08/16/2026

Please take the time to listen to this important conversation.

What happens when California changes the rules surrounding parole, resentencing and the release of people convicted of some of our most serious and violent crimes?

And perhaps an even more important question: where are victims and their families in those decisions?

Crime Victims United’s Nina Salarno joined former Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert on Partners in True Crime: Serial Killer Whisperer for an important discussion about their CDCR lawsuit and the very real consequences of California’s changing criminal justice policies.

This conversation goes beyond politics and headlines. It talks about real cases, real families and the difficult questions surrounding rehabilitation, accountability, public safety and victims’ rights.

For those of us who have spent decades advocating for victims, one thing remains clear: reform cannot come at the expense of forgetting the people who were harmed in the first place.

Whether you agree with every perspective or not, Californians should understand the laws being passed, the decisions being made and how those decisions affect victims, prosecutors, law enforcement and our communities.

We encourage you to listen, share and stay engaged.

Victims deserve a voice. Victims deserve to be heard. And Californians deserve to know what is happening in their criminal justice system.

Watch the full conversation here:

In this explosive episode of Partners in True Crime, Rob and Cindy ...

08/14/2026

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗔-𝟭𝟰 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦

AUBURN, Calif. - Crime Victims United announced their endorsement of Melissa Hernandez for Congress in the August 18 special election for California’s 14th Congressional District.

CVU President Topo Padilla issued the following statement:

“For Crime Victims United, endorsements are about character, leadership, compassion, and how an elected official treats victims, survivors, and California residents when they have the courage to come forward and tell their stories.

We have learned that Congressional candidate Melissa Hernandez recently took the time to personally reach out to fellow survivor and advocate Laura Didier, who lost her 17-year-old son, Zach, to fentanyl poisoning. Laura has turned unimaginable grief into advocacy, traveling to the State Capitol and sharing the most painful moments of her life in an effort to prevent another family from experiencing the same tragedy.

During one of those efforts, Laura delivered emotional testimony before the Senate Public Safety Committee, sharing the devastating loss of her son in support of fentanyl legislation. While Laura was telling her story, Hernandez’s opponent, State Senator Aisha Wahab, walked out of the hearing; a moment that many who work in the industry described as one of the most callous and troubling displays they had ever witnessed during the legislative process.

To Crime Victims United, these moments matter.

When a mother sits before her elected representatives and recounts the worst day of her life in the hope of saving another child, she deserves to be heard. Listening to victims' and all California residents' lived experiences regarding legislation is not ceremonial. It is not optional. It is part of the responsibility that comes with public office. Senator Wahab’s actions that day reflected not only a profound lack of humanity toward a grieving mother, but also a failure to uphold one of the most fundamental responsibilities of public service: to listen to the people whose lives are directly impacted by the policies before her.

An elected official's actions in moments like these reveal something important about character, attitude, disposition, and leadership. Higher office brings greater responsibility, not less, and we believe a record of how someone treats victims and survivors should matter when voters decide who deserves that responsibility.

Melissa Hernandez demonstrated a very different approach. She took the time to research Laura's story. She reached out, listened, and used her platform to elevate the voice of a mother who has worked tirelessly to make California safer.

That is the kind of leadership Crime Victims United wants to see in Congress. For these reasons, Crime Victims United wholeheartedly endorses Melissa Hernandez for Congress and encourages voters throughout California's 14th Congressional District to make their voices heard in the special election this coming Tuesday, August 18, 2026.”

California’s 14th Congressional District (CA-14) is located within Alameda County and represents communities throughout the East Bay, including Dublin, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Lorenzo, and portions of Fremont, Castro Valley, and San Leandro, among surrounding communities. A special election was called for this coming Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to fill the congressional seat previously held by Eric Swalwell and serve the remainder of the current term.

Learn more about Melissa Hernandez and her campaign at www.melissahernandez2026.com
View Senator Wahab's actions here: https://wghn.com/2025/08/20/using-new-ai-grieving-moms-discover-california-lawmakers-killed-popular-fentanyl-bill-by-not-voting/