When Attorney General Bill Lockyer entered his first term in January 1999, he immediately recognized that the criminal justice system did not adequately serve the needs of crime victims. Five months later he created the Office of Victims' Services (OVS) and appointed Nina-Germaine Salarno Ashford as the Director. Under her leadership and in conjunction with her dedicated staff, OVS has been responsible for implementing far-reaching programs and policies that serve victims of crime

Ms. Ashford is one of California's youngest directors and her appointment to such a high-profile position within the State supports the conclusion that Attorney General Lockyer is pro-active in the area of victims' rights.

Ms. Ashford is no stranger to issues of victims' rights and needs within the justice system. In 1979, prior to her first day of school at the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, Ms. Ashford's oldest sister, Catina, was stalked and murdered execution-style by her boyfriend. Nina was a witness to significant events to this tragedy; as a result, she and her family became immersed in the criminal justice system. Recognizing that the voice of a victim had no role in the criminal justice system, the Salarnos' united and formed Justice for Murder Victims and Crime Victims United, an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of crime victims. At the age of 12, Ms. Ashford became one of the youngest advocates for victims, testifying before President Ronald Reagan's Task Force on Crime Victims and participating in various crime victim programs.