Letter: Be aware of victim issues

Dear Editor,

Everyday people perform routine tasks. Most people never imagine that while performing these functions, a property crime is committed every 3 second, a theft occurs every 4.5 seconds, a burglary every 14.7 second, a violent crime every 22.1 seconds, a robbery every 1.2 minutes, a forcible rape every 5.5 minutes, and a murder every 32.4 minutes. When a person becomes a victim of a crime, they often are in shock and do not know where to go for help.

Before 1984 victims of crime received little public support. The President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime, formed in 1982, found widespread poor treatment of victims by a criminal justice system indifferent to their needs.

This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 26 to May 2, celebrates the 25-year anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The theme, 25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act,’ spotlights the network of lifelines VOCA has extended through our nation. This includes St. Croix County, where the Legal Advocate Program, which is part of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program, is funded primarily through a VOCA grant.

In 25 years, VOCA has become “a part of what we are and . . . how we take care of people,” said Kathryn Turman, director of the FBI Office of Victim Assistance.

That’s why National Crime Victims’ Rights Week celebrates the Victims of Crime Act this year.

It is also why St. Croix County Victim/Witness Program participates in this important celebration every year. We invite community members to join us in celebrating Victims’ Right Week at a Reading of the Rights on Wednesday, April 29 at noon at the front entrance of the St. Croix County Government Center. Informational materials will also be on display inside the Government Center.

For additional information contact the ictim/Witness Assistance program at (715) 386-4666.

Ann Gustafson, Hudson

Coordinator Victim/witness Assistance Program

Tags: opinion, hudson, letter, victims, rights