The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and the Department of Justice’s Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) will join communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 21-27, 2024. This year’s theme, “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors,” aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find help.
Each year, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by honoring victims of crime and their advocates. According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States, with more than 6.6 million resulting from violent crimes. However, only about 42% of these crimes were reported to the police.
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The Office for Victims of Crime leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of crime victims.
In the Western District of Tennessee, a dedicated Victim Witness Coordinator supports federal crime victims by providing essential services, such as referrals to counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim’s compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, provides innovative leadership to various justice systems by disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge and practices and providing grants for the implementation of crime-fighting strategies. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week resources can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw, and more information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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