The Hall County Solicitor’s Office and Hall County District Attorney’s Office are hosting a Victims’ Rights Week kick-off event to raise awareness about crime victims’ issues and rights and introduce the community to the important resources and services available to victims of crime.
The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 31 at the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, located at 2859 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville. The event kicks off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 2-8, 2017.
“This is our opportunity to celebrate the advancement of victims’ rights and highlight the issues surrounding victimization,” said Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard. “That being said, there is still work to be done, making sure victims receive the help they need as we advocate for expanded services to communities affected by crime.”
Last year, over 5 million individuals were a victim of a crime, and there were nearly 15 million property victimizations (according to the 2015 National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics). Throughout the month of April, Hall County will honor and recognize the local nonprofit organizations who serve as the lifeblood for such victims in our community.
“The men and women who serve these individuals are champions of victims’ rights. While we wish these crimes were never committed to begin with, we are nevertheless fortunate to have so many resources available to victims of crime in Hall County,” said Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh.
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) of the U.S. Department of Justice leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme—Strength. Resilience. Justice.—emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary responses and building the capacity of individuals, service providers, and communities to respond to crime and support the ongoing healing of victims and survivors. The theme also supports OVC’s Vision 21 Initiative to encourage research, address emerging issues, and build the capacity of victim service organizations by increasing the use of technology and training.
For additional information about the Victims’ Rights Week Kickoff and how to assist victims in your community, please contact the Hall County Solicitor’s Office at 770-531-7012. For additional ideas on how to support victims of crime, visit the OVC website, www.ovc.gov.