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, life savings, physical and mental health, and often their sense of security that has the potential to irrevocably change the course of their lives; and

WHEREAS, providing victims with knowledge of their rights and available services further strengthens their ability to recover by restoring a sense of self-empowerment; and

WHEREAS, victims who feel understood and supported are more likely to disclose their victimization, seek services, and participate in the justice process; and

WHEREAS, professionals and organizations in the crime victims' field can always strive to better ensure that every crime victim has access to vital services and support, as well as working in tandem with their communities to ensure all victims are reached; and 

WHEREAS, 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 victims 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 is an opportune time to reaffirm Arizona's commitment 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 hereby dedicated to strengthening victims and survivors by providing them with trusted sources of support, building resilience in our communities and our victim responders, and working for justice for all victims and survivors; and

WHEREAS, we 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 or 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 8 - 14, 2018, 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 twelfth day of March in the year
Two Thousand and Eighteen and of the Independence of the United States of America
the Two Hundred and Forty-Second.

ATTEST: 

SECRETARY OF STATE

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