The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, and other communities throughout the nation, honored 2013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 21-April 27. This year’s theme was “New Challenges, New Solutions,” and it celebrated the spirit that will advance crime victims’ rights.
Thirty years ago, crime victims had no rights, access to crime victim compensation, or services to help rebuild their lives. They were often excluded from courtrooms, treated as an afterthought by the criminal justice system, and denied an opportunity to speak at sentencing.
Today, all states have enacted crime victims’ rights laws and established crime victim compensation funds. More than 10,000 victim service agencies help victims throughout the nation. Every year, states and localities receive millions of federal dollars to support these services.
National Crime Victims’ Rights week reminds us that challenges remain. Crime victims’ rights are not universal and are often not enforced. Only a small percentage of victims receive crime victim compensation, which is usually limited to victims of violent crime. Advocates also face a host of new challenges as they strive to provide culturally competent services for increasingly diverse populations and victims of newly prevalent crimes.
In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Justice held the Office for Victims of Crime’s annual Service Awards ceremony to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime.
For more information, visit the Office for Victims of Crime website: www.ovc.gov.
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