About VOCAL
Victims of Crime and Leniency
Crime affects individuals and families across every community, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. For those impacted, navigating the criminal justice system can be overwhelming—often at a time of profound loss and trauma.
VOCAL (Victims of Crime and Leniency) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982 to ensure that crime victims and their families are informed, supported, and heard throughout the criminal justice process. VOCAL serves victims across the State of Alabama, providing advocacy, education, and support at every stage of involvement with the justice system.
VOCAL was founded by Miriam Shehane, whose daughter, Quenette Shehane, was brutally murdered in Birmingham in 1976. Through her personal experience, Miriam discovered that victims had no recognized place in the justice system—no guaranteed right to be present in court, to receive notice of proceedings, or to be heard. She transformed her grief into action, organizing survivors and leading efforts to secure meaningful rights for crime victims in Alabama.
As a result of those efforts, landmark legislation—including the Courtroom Attendance Act and Parole Notification laws—was passed in 1983. Today, victims’ rights in Alabama are protected by the state constitution, guaranteeing victims the right to be informed, present, and heard at critical stages of criminal proceedings, when authorized by law.
VOCAL’s victims’ advocates assist individuals by attending trials and hearings with them, advocate protest against the release of inmates or the pardoning of convicted criminals in parole/pardon hearings, and assist individuals with information, support, and referrals based on their individual needs. On average, over 500 letters of parole protest are written each year and VOCAL’s advocates appear at parole/pardon hearings every day the Parole Board meets to protest in cases where a violent crime – murder, assaults, robbery, rape, sexual abuse of a child, – was committed and a person was either harmed or was threatened to be harmed.
VOCAL also makes presentations regarding victim advocacy to groups and organizations on how they may effectively help crime victims. In 2024 – 2025, VOCAL staff members presented a class on advocacy for crime victims to over 300 hundred law enforcement cadets at police academies across Alabama to inform incoming police officers of the nature of victim advocacy.
Victims of Crime and Leniency serves crime victims throughout Alabama. If you would like more information about our mission, please contact Executive Director Wanda Miller at: wmiller@vocalonline.org