Evansville Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Victims of Crime Act

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National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Celebrates Progress, Works Toward Future Goals

April 6 marks the beginning of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week. The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office is teaming with Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Lampion Center, YWCA, & Holly’s House.

This year’s theme— 30 Years: Restoring the Balance of Justice— presents a perfect opportunity to salute all those who dedicate their lives to their long-term commitment to aiding crime victims. As we celebrate three decades of defending victims’ rights, we are reminded of how far we have come— and how much work is yet to be done.

Only 30 years ago, crime victims had virtually no rights and no assistance. The criminal justice system often seemed indifferent to their needs. Victims were commonly excluded from courtrooms and denied the chance to speak at sentencing. They had no access to victim compensation or services to help rebuild their lives. There were few avenues to deal with their emotional and physical wounds. Victims were on their own to recover their health, security, and dignity.

Today, the nation has made dramatic progress in securing rights, protections, and services for victims. Every state has enacted victims’ rights laws and all have victim compensation programs. More than 10,000 victim service agencies now help people throughout the country. In 1984, Congress passed the bipartisan Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which created a national fund to ease victims’ suffering.

Financed not by taxpayers but by fines and penalties paid by offenders, the Crime Victims Fund supports victim services, such as rape crisis and domestic violence programs and victim compensation programs that pay many of victims’ out- of-pocket expenses from the crime, such as counseling, funeral expenses, and lost wages.

Victims’ rights advocates have scored remarkable victories over the last 30 years. But there is still a lot of work to be done. As we move forward, we are increasingly expanding our reach to previously underserved victim populations, including victims of color, American Indians and Alaska Natives, adults molested as children, victims of elder abuse, and LGBTQ victims. Over three decades, VOCA pioneered support efforts for victims of once-hidden crimes, like domestic and sexual violence. Today, we are shining a spotlight on other abuses that have long been unreported and often not prosecuted— hate and bias crimes, bullying, and sex and labor trafficking, among others.

“Our commitment to reaching every victim of crime is stronger than ever,” said Joye E. Frost, Director, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice. “For 30 years, VOCA has represented hope, healing, and justice. Our message to all victims of crime is this: You are not alone.”

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be held April 6–12 in communities throughout the nation. In Washington, DC, the U.S. Department of Justice will kick off the week with OVC’s annual Service Awards Ceremony to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime. Vanderburgh County will observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with special events and programs, including

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation Ceremony  – Read by Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin -April 7, 8:30 a.m. at Ivy Tech Community College

Annual Awareness Training – Two-One Day Trainings featuring the ACT OUT Ensemble & Kerry Hyatt Blomquist – April 7 – April 8. Registration 8:00 a.m. Training 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. both days. – Ivy Tech Community College, Vectren Auditorium. 3501 N. First Avenue, Evansville.

Annual “Walk a Mile in her Shoes” – April 8, 5:00 p.m. at USI UC’s Amphitheatre

OVC encourages widespread participation in the week’s events and in other victim-related observances throughout the year. For additional information about 2014 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to help victims in your community, please contact Albion Fellows Bacon Center at 812-422-9372 or visit www.albionfellowsbacon.org For more ideas on how to volunteer to help crime victims, visit the Office for Victims of Crime website, www.ovc.gov.