On December 31, 1997, Belgicia Howell-Cowart’s life changed forever. “I was attacked by an ex-boyfriend. He stabbed me 20 times, beat me, strangled me, and raped me twice. And he is serving life in prison currently.”
For years, Belgicia says she stayed detached from the criminal legal system as she struggled with depression and anxiety. But when she connected with the Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS), she discovered resources that gave her a new voice.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that in the criminal legal system, we don’t even have a voice. Through everything, we don’t have a voice in what happens to the offender. And… you need a champion to fight for this, to get more rights for us,” said Belgicia. “I’m grateful for Marsy’s Law doing that and helping get more rights for the victim and fighting for us.”
It took more than two decades after her attack before Belgicia was able to face her offender. At the time of her case, Marsy’s Law did not yet exist, which meant she had to wait years before having the opportunity to speak and be heard.
One of the most impactful experiences for Belgicia was going through Georgia’s Victim Offender Dialogue program, which Marsy’s Law helped serve as a gateway for such programs. “It was life-changing for me, honestly. I was able to get answers to questions that I had. I sat in that room with him for six hours, and I was able to leave that room and say, ‘I forgive you.’ For the first time, I really meant it,” she explained.
She mentioned that the notification rights provided by Marsy’s Law have significantly increased her peace of mind. “I’m grateful for the notification system we now have in Georgia, where I can be notified if he’s coming up for parole. Every time I get one of those letters in the mail, I’m terrified to open it. But it’s wonderful to have the support of my family and friends, and to know I’ll never be caught off guard.”
Belgicia believes that there is still more to be done to give victims an equal voice in the system. “I think if you have someone serving a life sentence, the victim, or the family, should have a day that we can go and speak with the parole board,” she emphasized. “Because I guarantee you, after they heard me share my story, they’re not letting him out of prison. I think Marsy’s Law could fight for even more opportunities for victims to be heard directly. “
Through sharing her story with advocates, parole officials, and even prison wardens across the country, Belgicia continues to shine a light on the importance of including victim voices in the justice system, all while continuing her own journey with her offender.
As she continues to advocate for victims’ rights as a victim support partner for GOVS, Belgicia remains committed to strengthening the protections Marsy’s Law provides. “I am forever grateful for Marsy’s Law and happy to help however I can to improve it and make it even better,” she shared. She also hopes to continue making a positive impact in her community as she runs for mayor of Richmond Hill, Georgia, aiming to bring more transparency, safety, and a stronger voice for residents.
With Domestic Violence Awareness Month approaching in October, Belgicia encourages anyone in need of help to reach out to resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.