Families of children who have been killed or murdered gathered outside the Suffolk County Courthouse in Riverhead Monday to advocate for the rights of crime victims.

Members of a group called Parents of Murdered Children demanded justice for their loved ones and appropriate punishment for those responsible. Activists included Joanne Cicciaro, whose son Daniel was killed by Miller Place father John White in 2006. White was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 4 years. Cicciaro says the sentence is too lenient and is calling for reforms to the justice system.

The mother of a 14-year-old killed in a car crash in Medford also stood with the group. Angelica Nappi was on the way to the movies with friends when police say a driver slammed into their car when he ran a red light. The driver had a suspended license.

?I blame our laws,? says Angelica?s mother, Dawn. ?If we had stricter laws, the man would not have been on the street and my daughter would possibly still be alive today.?

Nappi?s court case begins this week.