Crime Victim Advocacy

The Nov. 9, 2013, episode of American Heroes Radio features a conversation with Crime Victim’s Advocate Karen L. Bune.

Bune serves as a Patient Relations Representative at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Virginia.  She serves as the liaison between the CEO & patients.  She assists patients during their hospitalization & interacts daily with nurses, physicians & other medical staff throughout the hospital.  She addresses patient complaints, conducts investigations and engages in conflict management.  Bune serves on 5 hospital committees: As Co-Chair of the Patient/Family Advisory Committee & a member of the Bio-Ethics, Patient-Flow, Domestic Violence, & Active Shooter committees.   

Ms. Bune has had a 34 year career in  criminal justice —18 years of which have been in victim services.   She has specialized in working with victims of domestic violence.  She worked on a project as a Consultant &  Team Leader for the development &  implementation of a domestic violence training program for the IRS.   Bune is passionately devoted in her ongoing efforts to focus on issues concerning domestic/family violence and victimization.

Bune also serves as a consultant on victim issues for the Office for Victims of Crime &  the Office of Juvenile Justice Programs for the DOJ.

Bune is an Adjunct Professor at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where she teaches undergraduate & graduate courses in criminal justice & victimology.

Bune holds a MS in Administration of Justice. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to public service and, specifically, for her work in the arena of victims’ services and victims’ rights.