The City Council of Philadelphia designates the Week of April 10th 2011 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Philadelphia and encourages that all communities throughout the City honor victims of crime and the people who help them rebuild their lives.
WHEREAS, The Office for Victims of Crime was established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime; and
WHEREAS, Each April since 1981, Office for Victims of Crime has helped lead communities throughout the country in their observances of National Crime Victims' Rights Week; and
WHEREAS, Office for Victims of Crime provides substantial
funding
to
state victim assistance and compensation programs
—the lifeline services that help victims to heal; and
WHEREAS, The agency supports
trainings
designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals regarding the rights and needs of crime victims; and
WHEREAS, The Office for Victims of Crime released an online database that includes more than 15,000 victims' rights statutes (state and federal), tribal laws, constitutional amendments, court rules, and administrative code provisions—developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime with funding from The Office for Victims of Crime; and
WHEREAS, Rallies, candlelight vigils, and a host of commemorative activities are held each year to promote victims' rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf; and
WHEREAS, For more information and to sign up for The National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony or The National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony, visit the Office of Justice Program's website at
www.ncvrw.org
.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Week of April 10th 2011 be designated as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in Philadelphia and encourages that all communities throughout the City honor victims of crime and the people who help them rebuild their lives.
End