Highland County to commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week
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With the theme of “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim,” the Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program will commemorate National Crime Victim's Rights Week, April 22-28, 2012.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a time to honor crime victims and our nation’s progress in advancing their rights. This year’s theme, “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim” celebrates the vision behind that progress and the ideal of serving all victims of crime.
Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program will observe the week with their third annual candlelight vigil on Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m., in the basement of Hillsboro Church of Christ, 155 W. Walnut Street. Highland County residents who have lost their lives through crime will be honored and remembered. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The vision that launched the victims’ rights movement emerged more than 30 years ago. Then, as now, crime victims endured physical and emotional wounds, costly financial burdens, an often hostile criminal justice system, and an alarming public tendency to blame them for the crimes against them. Victims were often excluded from courtrooms, disrespected by officials, and afforded few rights. They began organizing to confront these challenges and to promote fair, compassionate, and respectful responses to victims of crime.
With the theme of “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim,” the Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program will commemorate National Crime Victim's Rights Week, April 22-28, 2012.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a time to honor crime victims and our nation’s progress in advancing their rights. This year’s theme, “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim” celebrates the vision behind that progress and the ideal of serving all victims of crime.
Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program will observe the week with their third annual candlelight vigil on Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m., in the basement of Hillsboro Church of Christ, 155 W. Walnut Street. Highland County residents who have lost their lives through crime will be honored and remembered. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The vision that launched the victims’ rights movement emerged more than 30 years ago. Then, as now, crime victims endured physical and emotional wounds, costly financial burdens, an often hostile criminal justice system, and an alarming public tendency to blame them for the crimes against them. Victims were often excluded from courtrooms, disrespected by officials, and afforded few rights. They began organizing to confront these challenges and to promote fair, compassionate, and respectful responses to victims of crime.
[[In-content Ad]]Since the 1980s, the nation has made dramatic progress in securing rights, protections, and services for victims of crime. Every state has enacted victims’ rights laws, and 32 states have constitutional victims’ rights amendments. All states have victim compensation funds, and more than 10,000 victim service agencies have been established throughout the country. The Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, supports a range of programs for crime victims, and seeks to extend those services to those who are underserved.
Yet there is still so much to do. Victims’ rights are not universal and are often not enforced. Only a fraction of victims receive crime victim compensation, which is usually limited to victims of violent crime. More than 50 percent of crimes are not reported, and fewer
than 20 percent of victims receive needed services. The victim services system is fragmented and uncoordinated, and agencies are struggling to keep their doors open in the face of budget cuts.
Yet victim advocates have not lost their resolve. “Our commitment to ‘extend the vision’ and ‘reach every victim’ will overcome every challenge that confronts us now,” said Joye E. Frost, Acting Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice. “The vision, determination, and passion for justice that inspired our history will help us transform the future for every victim of crime.”
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will begin in Washington, DC, at the Department of Justice’s annual Attorney General’s National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony, April 20, 2012, to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime. For additional information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, how to help victims in your community, or how to volunteer, please contact Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program at (937) 393-5872. Director Barbara Shoemaker is glad to address any questions
Since the 1980s, the nation has made dramatic progress in securing rights, protections, and services for victims of crime. Every state has enacted victims’ rights laws, and 32 states have constitutional victims’ rights amendments. All states have victim compensation funds, and more than 10,000 victim service agencies have been established throughout the country. The Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, supports a range of programs for crime victims, and seeks to extend those services to those who are underserved.
Yet there is still so much to do. Victims’ rights are not universal and are often not enforced. Only a fraction of victims receive crime victim compensation, which is usually limited to victims of violent crime. More than 50 percent of crimes are not reported, and fewer than 20 percent of victims receive needed services. The victim services system is fragmented and uncoordinated, and agencies are struggling to keep their doors open in the face of budget cuts.
Yet victim advocates have not lost their resolve. “Our commitment to ‘extend the vision’ and ‘reach every victim’ will overcome every challenge that confronts us now,” said Joye E. Frost, Acting Director, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice. “The vision, determination, and passion for justice that inspired our history will help us transform the future for every victim of crime.”
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will begin in Washington, DC, at the Department of Justice’s annual Attorney General’s National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony, April 20, 2012, to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime. For additional information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, how to help victims in your community, or how to volunteer, please contact Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program at (937) 393-5872. Director Barbara Shoemaker is glad to address any questions about this program.