PHOENIX — Former Governor Ducey has issued a proclamation declaring April 7-13, 2019 as Arizona Crime Victims' Rights Week to honor the rights of victims and express gratitude and appreciation for the community members, victim service providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving Arizona's response to all victims of crime.
View text of the proclamation below
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WHEREAS, more than 20 million Americans are victims of crime each year and each crime affects many more, including families, friends, and communities; and
WHEREAS, crime exacts an emotional, physical, psychological, and financial toll on victims as they have lost loved ones, lifesavings, physical and mental health, and often their sense of security that has the potential to irrevocably change the course of their lives; and
WHEREAS, honoring the rights of victims, including the knowledge of their rights and ability to be heard and to be treated with fairness, dignity, and respect, and working to meet their needs rebuilds their trust in the criminal justice and social service systems and strengthens their ability to recover by restoring a sense of self-empowerment; and
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; and
WHEREAS, with the unwavering support of their communities and victim service providers behind them, survivors will be empowered to face their grief, loss, fear, anger, and hope without fear of judgment, and will feel understood, heard, and respected; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime envisioned a national commitment to a more equitable and supportive response to victims, and Arizona has been a national leader in establishing constitutional rights for crime victims, including the Arizona Crime Victims' Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS, we applaud the progress that our Nation and Arizona have made in recognizing crime's impact on victims and we also recognize that involving survivors helps victim service providers and criminal justice professionals understand the culture, values, and expectations of all victims, but especially under - and unserved victims who seek assistance and justice; and
WHEREAS, National Crime Victims' Rights Week provides an opportunity for Arizona to recommit to ensuring that all victims of crime – even those who are challenging to reach or serve - are offered accessible and appropriate services in the aftermath of crime; and
WHEREAS, the State of Arizona is dedicated 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Douglas A. Ducey, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim April 7 - 13, 2019, as
ARIZONA CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be
affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona
GOVERNOR
DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this fifth day of March in the year
Two Thousand and Nineteen and of the Independence of the United States of Arnerica
the Two Hundred and Forty-Third.
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
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