Claudia Saavedra - OCVS Financial Grants Specialist

Claudia Saavedra is a Financial Grants Manager with over 20 years of experience working with a variety of non-profit organizations and state government agencies.  Early in her career, Claudia specialized in the implementation of new laws in her native country Bolivia, where she worked with indigenous communities by training and facilitating access to federal funding in order to improve their living conditions.  Claudia then worked with the World Wildlife Fund, where she found a passion working on environmental issues and conservation projects throughout Central and South America.  After moving to Wisconsin, she worked on fundraising and donor outreach for a Catholic Seminary, focusing on Hispanic donors and programs.  Most recently, Claudia worked at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services as a Financial Specialist supporting Wisconsin’s COVID-19 response. In her free time, Claudia likes to garden, hike, and travel to visit her family in Bolivia.

Katrece Ragland - OCVS Training Coordinator

Kay Ragland is the Training Coordinator for the Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS) at the Wisconsin Department of Justice on the Grants & Training Team. She manages and coordinates training-related activities to enhance and improve victim services. Kay worked in the field of social services for over a decade, leading and developing programs, creating scores of training workshops, and developing customized training. Kay has engraved throughout her career the motto to develop and deliver quality services, understanding firsthand how providing the best service keeps the community and customer resourceful. Before working at OCVS, Kay was a Community Organizer with the Chicago Police Department where she provided an array of services to the community, community-based organizations, and the public sector including program training, development, and implementation. She previously worked with the Department of Workforce Department (DWD), a state agency training and technical assistance organization devoted to strengthening the field of workforce development through education and training. She also served as the Training and Education Director with the Salvation Army Bureau of Prisons, within a community reintegration program helping incarcerated men and women re-enter society successfully. Kay is an extrovert in her mind because she loves people, but she is truly an introverted person.

Lynda Jackson - OCVS  Victim Service Specialist

Lynda Jackson is a Victim Service Specialist in the Victim Resource Center Office of Crime Victim Services at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Since April 2021, Lynda has focused her efforts on the new DOJ - Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative.

In her role at DOJ, Lynda serves as the initial point of contact for the clergy and faith leader abuse toll-free line.  Lynda receives calls from sexual assault and sexual abuse victims, survivors and individuals that have witnessed or know about such abuse.

Lynda assists victims and survivors with completing their report, answering questions about the criminal justice process, provides advocacy, referrals to resources, and emotional support.

Lynda brings over 30 years of experience to DOJ, beginning as a domestic abuse crisis line staff, and went on to work as a Counselor and Advocate for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault at the Women’s Center of Racine. Lynda worked as a Jail Chaplain, Executive Director of Bethany Apartments - a Transitional Living Program for victims of domestic abuse and as Compliance Manager at HALO in Racine WI. Lynda holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree from UW-Parkside, and Master of Social Work, from UW-Milwaukee.

Peter Bennett - OCVS Victim Services Specialist

Peter has worked for the Office of Crime Victim Services as a Victim Services Specialist in the Safe at Home program since March 2021.  Prior to this, Peter has worked throughout the criminal justice system, including as a dispatcher for the Dane County Public Safety Communications Center, a police officer for the City of Madison Police Department, and as a Legal Advocate & Legal Program Coordinator at DAIS in Madison.  He studied Psychology and Legal Studies at UW-Madison, and worked for a research lab that focused on better understanding psychopathy, primarily through research involving incarcerated adult males in the Wisconsin prison system.  

Brooke Johnson - MMIW Taskforce Coordinator

Brooke Johnson is the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womens Task Force Coordinator. Brooke recently graduated from College of Menominee Nation with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. She has worked on issues surrounding MMIW with grassroots organizations for 5 years now. Brooke has three beautiful children, one puppy, and five goldfish that keep her busy.

Keri Berling - CVC Program Director 

Keri has been with OCVS as a CVC claims specialist since October 2018. Previous to her work with OCVS, she practiced as a medical and mental health social worker in both the Milwaukee and Madison area, specifically in community crisis work and in the field hospice services.  She also served as a city of Madison police officer for 7 years on night shift patrol and assisted in the development of the mental health liaison officer program. Keri has been working with and for victims and survivors of varying difficult circumstances for nearly 15 years and brings a strong leadership and strategic vision to this work.

Keeley Crowley - Director of Victim Services Programs

Keeley Crowley was named the Director of Victim Service Programs in the Office of Crime Victim Services in June of 2021.  In this role, she is privileged to oversee the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program and the Victim Resource Center, supporting the staff in each program who do wonderful work to support crime victims in Wisconsin.  Keeley has over 25 years of experience working in the anti-sexual and domestic violence movement, including providing direct services to survivors. She is the Site Coordinator for the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative and coordinates the state’s Sexual Assault Response Team Strengthening and Enhancement Project and the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Response Team.  Ms. Crowley previously served as the director of a community-based sexual assault program and as a Program and Policy Analyst - Advanced with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Prison Rape Elimination Act Unit.  She has been with OCVS for seven years.

Teresa Nienow - Director of Grants & Training

Teresa has been with OCVS as a Justice Program Supervisor and Children’s Justice Act Coordinator within the Grants and Training Team since April 2019. Previous to her work with OCVS, she practiced as a social worker in both systems and community based social work programs and then went on to serve as executive director for PAVE, a community victim service provider. Teresa has been working with and for victims and survivors for 15 years and has nearly a decade of grant related experience. She is honored to lead the talented Grants & Training Team and looks forward to continued partnership in this important work.