Stanford law student among ‘unsung heroes’ honored for work with crime victims

Natasha Haney, a second-year law student at Stanford University, was among a dozen “unsung heroes” who were honored Friday for their work helping victims of criminal acts in Santa Clara County.

Nominated by Mothers Against Murder, Haney is the leader of Parallel Justice, a student pro bono group founded on the principle that victims, and not just defendants, deserve to be treated with fairness in the criminal justice system.

Through Parallel Justice, Haney has provided Mothers Against Murder with critical legal research needed to ensure families of murder victims receive compensation they have been incorrectly denied, said Margaret Petros, executive director of the Los Altos-based organization.

“She has so much compassion,” Petros said about Haney. “She really makes her chosen profession proud.”

Haney said she was honored to receive the award, which came during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“I think this experience has made it clear to me that as a professional I need to keep victims in the loop,” said Haney, who hopes to land a job as a state-level prosecutor when she graduates.

One case Mothers Against Murder and Parallel Justice are working on involves the murder of Josue Zamora, an East Palo Alto teenager who was shot to death 300 feet from his home on Jan. 13. Haney said his mother filed an emergency application for funeral and burial funds with the Santa Clara County Victim Witness Center. She wanted a traditional Catholic burial but had to settle for cremation when the money did not materialize.

“Parallel Justice and MAM are continuing to work on the case to help Ms. Zamora get the funds she is entitled to,” said Haney, adding that Josue worked at Panera Bread to help his mother make ends meet.

Other honorees at the ceremony in San Jose included Los Gatos police Chief Scott Seaman, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amie Rooney and Saozinha Restorick, who works with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.

Petros said the awards have been handed out for roughly 20 years. Recipients are chosen by the dozen organizations that make up the Santa Clara County Crime Victim Support Network.

“This is our way in Santa Clara County to come together and celebrate the families and the advocates who help them,” she said. “Without these advocates, justice would not be served.”

Email Jason Green at jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; follow him at twitter.com/jgreendailynews.