116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Karla Miller retires after more than 30 years at Iowa City’s RVAP
By Brent Griffiths, The Gazette
Jun. 18, 2014 2:00 pm, Updated: Jun. 18, 2014 3:23 pm
'Eyes light up and shoulders relax,' this small response may seem inconsequential but inside the Johnson County Courthouse it marks the impact Karla Miller has made for decades. Janet Lyness has seen these reactions countless times as survivors of sexual assault recount their case to the county attorney and her staff with Miller nearby.
'The non-verbal reaction is as powerful as anything else,' said Lyness, who trained under Miller in the 1980s. 'It's pretty obvious when that's happening [the victims] feel stronger, because Karla is there with them.'
Lyness said if she had not worked as an advocate under Miller she might have never become a prosecutor. A story shared by others who trained under Miller.
Over the past week, Miller packed up the books and belongings accrued over her two stints as head of RVAP. She is retiring after more than 30 years with the organization.
Miller recalled starting out in the 1980s when key stakeholders were focused on what the victim did wrong and not the perpetrator. But overtime she has witnessed attitudes change.
'I ran into [Former Johnson County sheriff] Bob Carpenter once, and he told me how years ago he used to race to try to get the interview started with a victim before the advocate would get there,' she said. 'Now he wouldn't start an interview without an advocate.' 'He totally turned around.'
Throughout her time at RVAP, Miller pushed for greater education and prevention efforts in the community. She continued efforts to involve advocates, like her, every step of the way from police interviews, to exams by specially trained nurses and when necessary the criminal justice system.
One aspect of RVAP's work involves the University of Iowa, which financially supports the organization. At Miller and her staff's behest, the UI now requires training for all incoming students and advocates meet with Greek Life organizations and new student athletes. But Miller said the last five years on campus have led to more action on dealing with sexual assault and related crimes then the last 40 years.
The issue of sexual assault reached a boiling point on campus this year in part due to UI President Sally Mason's comments to The Daily Iowan. Students protested on the Pentacrest and Mason later responded with a six-point plan to address the issue. Miller said the response reminded her of when RVAP was first founded.
'I was delighted to see it before I left, because that is what it was going to take, it was going to take student outrage to make effective change,' she said. That's what happened when we created RVAP, a collection of people who said no we're not going to do this, we're not going to put up with this.'
Those who have trained under Miller say her lasting impact will be the throngs of volunteers and advocates who started out at RVAP and have gone throughout the state and the country.
'The number of young people Karla has impacted on both a direct level and has someone who has been an advocate has helped changed the atmosphere,' said Kristie Fortmann-Doser, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence and Intervention Program. 'I can't imagine what the impact would be without her.'