April 26th - May 2nd is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a time to focus on victims of crime and celebrate our nation’s progress in serving them. This year’s theme, “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act,” honors a landmark national commitment to victims of crime. In 1984 Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which created the Crime Victims Fund.
The Missouri Crime Victims Fund supports victim compensation programs, which reimburse victims for many out-of pocket expenses that victims face in the aftermath of the crime. It also helps fund victim assistance programs that support victims by providing physical and emotional care and guidance in navigating the criminal justice system. Since 1993, the fund has provided services to approximately 861,000 victims of crime in the State of Missouri and has paid more than $93 million in victim compensation to Missouri crime victims and their families.
Gov. Jay Nixon said, “The Victims of Crime Act was an important recognition of the continuing impact crime has on victims and of the assistance they deserve. The entire Department of Public Safety shares my commitment to ensuring crime victims receive the assistance they need.”
The State of Missouri will hold a ceremony in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week on April 30th, 2009 at noon on the first floor of the Missouri State Capitol Building. A reception hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving will immediately follow the ceremony. Gov. Jay Nixon is scheduled to speak and read a Victims' Rights proclamation. Gov. Nixon has been a leader in supporting and expanding the rights of crime victims during his more than two decades of public service, including increasing funding for domestic violence shelters and fighting for the rights of victims to be present during court proceedings.
Also speaking at the ceremony will be Darrel Ashlock, Executive Director of Kids Harbor, and serving as master of ceremonies; Dwight Scroggins, Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney and the President of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; and Melanie Oldani, a courageous woman who following her sister’s murder became a vocal advocate for all victims of crime.
The following agencies donated their time and effort to make this year’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week ceremony and awareness week a success: the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Office of the Director, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Social Services Division of Youth Services, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, and the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.
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