National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed April 23-29, according to United States Attorney Delia L. Smith.
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, crime victims, law enforcement agencies, community organizations and faith-based institutions will be recognized for being dedicated to serving and assisting victims of crime.
“Acknowledging the rights of crime victims and supporting them with services are essential parts of the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We work with our law enforcement and community partners to pursue justice, collect restitution, and identify resources needed to compensate those who suffer the consequences of crime,” Smith said.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. In addition, the Department of Justice organizes events to honor crime victims and advocates and bring awareness to services available to victims of crime. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”
Partner organizations are committed to engaging with victims of crime; learning from their lived experiences; amplifying their voices; and fostering an environment where they are heard, believed, and supported. The U.S Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, leads communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and right of victims of crime.
Here, in the District of the Virgin Islands, we have a dedicated Victim Witness Coordinator who supports federal crime victims by providing notification of significant case events through the DOJ Victim Notification System (VNS). Through VNS, victims learn of upcoming court proceedings and the outcome of those proceedings. Victims can also use the VNS to participate in court proceedings and to make their voices heard. In fact, in 2022, the District’s Victim Witness Coordinator, Antoinette James-Alleyne, provided several thousand notices to crime victims and provided victims with essential services, including referrals to counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim’s compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings to provide support and guidance. These services provide victims with tools to reshape their futures.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems by disseminating state-of-the art knowledge and practices across the United States and providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter partnerships with these officers. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Program at usama.victimservices@usdoj.gov.
