Crime Victims' Rights Week Proclamation

                 Whereas, Americans are the victims of more than 26 million crimes each year, and crime can touch the lives of anyone regardless of age, national origin, race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, immigration, or economic status;

                  Whereas, Many victims face challenges in finding appropriate services, including victims with disabilities, young victims of color, deaf and hard of hearing victims, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning (LGBTQ) victims, tribal victims, elder victims, victims with mental illness, immigrant victims, teen victims, victims with limited English proficiency, and others;

                   Whereas, The entire community has a role to play;

                   Whereas, Involving survivors helps victim service providers and criminal justice professionals understand the culture, values, and expectations of under- and unserved victims who seek assistance and justice;

                    Whereas, Engaging victims’ communities and learning from leaders about their unique needs helps service providers foster a supportive and culturally relevant atmosphere in which victims seek help and healing;

                    Whereas, Incorporating communities’ existing experts and trusted sources of support into efforts to fully serve survivors will develop a criminal justice system response that is truly accessible and appropriate for all victims of crime;

                    Whereas, Victims know best how to direct and manage their own lives, and true recovery from crime will incorporate a victim’s cultural, religious, economic, social, and personal interests;

                    Whereas, With the full weight of their community and victim service providers behind them, survivors will feel empowered to face their grief, loss, fear, anger, and shame, without fear of judgment and will feel understood and worthy of support;

                    Whereas, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25, 2015, is an opportune time to commit to ensuring that all victims of crime—even those who are challenging to reach or serve—are offered culturally and linguistically accessible and appropriate services in the aftermath of crime; and

                    Whereas, The Sauk County District Attorney’s Office – Victim Witness Unit is hereby dedicated to building partnerships with trusted sources of support, including community leaders, religious groups, schools, and other agencies to better reach and serve all victims of crime, no matter their community;

                     NOW THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED, that the Sauk County Board of Supervisors do hereby proclaim the week of April 19-25, 2015, as national Crime Victims’ Rights Week and reaffirm Sauk County’s commitment to creating a victim service and criminal justice response that assists all victims of crime during Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year; and to Express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for those community members, victim service providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving our response to all victims of crime so that they may find relevant assistance, support, justice, and peace.