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DA’s Office Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Month

NCVRW bookmark

Bristol County is celebrating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 10-16. This is an annual observance which promotes victims’ rights, and honors crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. 

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III is spearheading local efforts for this initiative. He recognizes plight of victims and their families, as well as the efforts of his advocates, attorneys, and staff to support victims during criminal investigations and prosecutions. Additionally, staff collaborate year-round with area resources and service agencies providing further support for victims to heal.

This year’s theme, Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope, highlights the importance of providing services in the earliest stages of victimization. Early intervention helps prevent continued victimization and involvement in the criminal justice system, thus addressing the cycle of violence and restoring hope for the future.

The District Attorney’s Office is observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, as well as this theme, with special events throughout Bristol County. This includes:

  • The dedication of two memorial benches engraved with this year’s theme, in both Attleboro and Taunton, to honor victims
    • Thursday April 14th at 11:00AM, Seeley Lot (Corner of Weir and Cohannet Street) across from the Taunton Green
    • Thursday April 14th at 3:00PM, Attleboro Police Department, 12 Union Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
  • The distribution of various promotional and marketing materials that spread this year’s theme and message of serving victims
  • The distribution of bookmarks to every library in Bristol County highlighting this year’s theme and listing area resources
  • Targeting youth to emphasize the importance of being safe through promotional crayon boxes and educational coloring books

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week honors and celebrates the achievements of the past thirty years in securing rights, protections, and services for victims. The bipartisan Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), passed by Congress in 1984, created a national fund to ease victims’ suffering. The fund supports services for victims of all types of crime, including assistance for homicide survivors, survivors of child sexual abuse and victims of human trafficking as well as rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs among others. VOCA also funds victim compensation programs that pay victims’ out-of-pocket expenses such as counseling, funeral expenses, and lost wages. For more information, visit the Office for Victims of Crime website, www.ovc.gov.

This project is supported by a National Crime Victims’ Right Week Community Awareness Project subgrant awarded by the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators under a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.