Stories of Local Victims
An important requirement for creating Silent Witnesses is that the murder must be a domestic violence homicide with a conviction or pending conviction. The language used on the shield can only indicate the perpetrator of a DV homicide if it meets the criteria above.
Stories can be researched through local news media as well as your local Attorney General’s office. Here is a link to finding your states Attorney General. Some states have this information available through the Attorney General’s webpage but in many cases it requires some research on the part of the chapter or state organizer to write the stories for the shields. This is also a great opportunity to reach out to victim’s families. Depending on their healing journey, Witness families might like to be involved in your event.
Creating The Storybook
Many events create a storybook that has a summary of each Witness story. This can be a powerful tool to use during your event that serves as a reminder of how special each victim can be.
Silent Witness has a template that you can download and have printed locally. Consider asking a local printer to donate the printing of the booklet, or see if a corporation will provide a gift to underwrite costs.
PRE-MADE SILENT WITNESS SILHOUETTES
Source A
These are all custom made. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
If you would like to buy ready – made figures of Sentra board please contact :
Durwood Lassiter Silent Witness Program
PO Box 298
Willow Springs, NC 27592
Phone: 919-247-4226 (cell number)
e-mail: durwood.lassiter@gmail.com
Please call for pricing. There are adult figures, children and more. Ask for custom designs. One shield s included with each silhouette.
Each silhouette includes a stand and crest. Additional crests are
The figures are made out of 1/4″ Sentra board which is a hard plastic material and virtually maintenance free. No painting is ever needed.
Source B
FASTSIGNS, 3065 Dundee Road, Northbrook , IL
(847) 2917446; fax (847) 291-7450 Attn: Eddy
www.fastsigns.com
Ready to stand, lightweight, Silent Witness Figures in a variety of colors. Each figure comes with it’s own integrally attached support for ‘instant standup’ and easy take down, transport and storage.
Materials: Figures are made of durable 4 mm corrugated plastic which is color fast, lightweight and won’t chip or crack. Shields are made from a luster-finished gold plastic.
Custom design figures are available upon request.
Silhouettes available in female, male, and child and custom made.
Prices available for each Silent Witness silhouette and name shield upon request.
Attn: Eddy 138@fastsigns.com
Here is a link to some of the pieces they make.
Custom Shields created from your information for each Silent Witness are also available from Fast Sign Inc.
FASTSIGNS, 3065 Dundee Road, Northbrook , IL
(847) 2917446; fax (847) 291-7450 Attn:Eddy
Shields gold plastic stock (approx. 1/16th ” thick)
Lettering on pressure sensitive (black on clear) stock which Fast Sign can apply (or the user can apply) to the above mentioned shields. Please call for pricing.
Here is a link to an example of a shield.
Homemade Silent Witness Figure Cut-outs, Materials and Directions
For Figure and Stand
Materials: 1/4″ red Sentra board
An affordable, durable, lightweight and moisture resistant 48″ x 96″ board. Can be cut, routed, machined, heat-formed or bonded.
It’s easily painted and can be used effectively with vinyl lettering and many adhesives. Great for screen printing, models, displays, exhibit booths, indoor and outdoor signs, and photo mounting.
UV Resistant. Contains no leads or heavy metals.
Hardware: 2 metal handles
Paint: No paint necessary for Sentra board
Silent Witness Name Shield
Materials: 1/16″ – 1/8″ gold Sentra board
Hardware: The shield should be attached with Velcro
Paint: No paint necessary for Sentra board
Please note that red is the only approved color for these figures.
Silent Witness Figures
These scale drawings are approximately 8% of actual size. For full-size reproduction just project an overhead transparency of this page onto a wall and trace the figures and shields, or print this page and bring to your local copy shop and ask them to print out at full height.
PDF File of women figures
PDF file of woman in a wheelchair
PDF file of child, pregnant woman and man
| Height: 45″ Width: 15″ | Height: 73″ Width: 22′” | Height: 68 1/2″ Width: 20 1/2 “ |
Storage and Moving Bags
Fabric: Trouser-Weigh black cotton/rayon
Dimensions: 74″ X 29″ (plus hems) rectangle
Instructions: Sealed with velcro at one end of the short side of rectangle; all around the outer side of the bag are two loop straps made of same fabric doubled (1 1/2″ wide) and stitched to the bag before side seams are finished.
Candles for Vigil
Amazon carries many candles
Walmart also carries candles
Music
“I’ll Stand in the Rain” is a song written by Leslie Monaghan for the Canadian Silent Witness Project, an initiative honoring women killed by violent partners.
You can download the song in all three languages as well as the words at this website: http://silentwitness.ca/index.php?page=silent-witness-song