IN THE KITCHEN WITH RICHARD POMPELIO

Sparta resident and Attorney Richard Pompelio is changing how the criminal justice system treats crime victims with the New Jersey Crime Victims Law Center (NJCVL). Founded by Pompelio in 1992, this non profit organization provides pro bono legal counsel to innocent crime victims. Pompelio’s professional journey has some very personal roots. “Our oldest child was murdered in 1989. And what my wife and I found out is that as victims we got thrown around in the criminal justice system. Nobody is looking out for the victim’s interest,“ explains Pompelio. “I knew if I was ever going to survive my son’s death, I had to get involved,” he added. When Pompelio refers to victims he means families, rape victims and survivors of homicides. There are in excess of 1,000 open cases at NJCVLC from New Jersey as well as other states. Most of his clients who come from inner cities are homicide survivors or assault victims of violent crimes. “A victim will come to us because they are not told what’s going on. Whatever has to be done to help the victim we do. Victims of crimes in New Jersey have rights under the constitution and state rights. I represent their civil rights,” Pompelio said. The law center, which was the first in the country (there are now seven), has never charged for its work, thus the Latin term pro bono meaning “for the public good.” The financial resources needed to run the center come from federal and state grants as well as fundraising. Pompelio also has a separate law firm and explains how the organizations work together: “The law firm of Pompelio, Foreman & Gray (PF&G) in combination with the Victims’ Law Center assesses all of the issues of the person. If the person is a victim of crime, we will not only serve as his or her lawyer in the criminal case to protect the victim’s civil rights, but also focus on the personal and psychological issues by working directly with therapists and service providers to be sure that the client is treated as a whole person. We do this work pro bono to the client. If there is a companion civil action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death, PF&G represents the client on a contingent fee basis,” explains Pompelio. The law center also works on legislature and is focusing on a major amendment proposal of the Crime Victims Bill of Rights. Pompelio has been asked to participate in Senator John McCain’s platform for victims’ rights issues. For more information about what the law center is doing, go to www.njcvlc.org. Richard and his wife Ann of 28 years are particularly proud of the Tony Pompelio Annual Award of Courage which provides scholarship dollars to a Sparta High School student. “The award is great because it is chosen by the fellow students and awarded to a person who demonstrates tremendous courage in a difficult situation,” he said. Richard and Ann who have been living in Sparta since 1985, have five children, and the entire family loves to cook. Osso Bucco - Braised Veal Shank served over Risotto Veal ingredients: 4 veal shanks from your butcher. 1 ½ cups of coarsely chopped celery and carrot 1 cup of chopped onion 1 1/2 1 tbsp. chopped garlic 2 tbsp. of tomato paste 1 1/2 cup of very drinkable Italian red wine (Chianti, Barolo, Amarone) 1 cup demi-glace or homemade reduced beef or veal stock 1 cup flour, extra virgin olive oil 2 bay leaves. Veal - preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly flour veal shanks and brown them in 5 tbsp. olive oil in hot skillet till brown on all sides. Remove meat to platter. Add vegetables and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Remove vegetables to a bowl. Deglaze the pan with the red wine and scrape up the bits with a wooden spatula. Add the demi-glace or stock, tomato paste and bay leaves. Salt & pepper sauce to taste. Place the veal shanks and vegetables in a roasting pan and pour the sauce over them. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours. When the meat is ready it is tender and comes off the bone lightly with a fork. Serve over risotto