Crime Victims' Rights Week Proclamation

Whereas, Americans are the victims of more than 20 million crimes each year, affecting individuals, and communities;

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

Whereas, A trauma-informed response to victims promotes healing and fosters strength in survivors;

Whereas, Unaddressed trauma from victimization weakens the resilience of victims and their communities, impeding their ability to withstand future trauma;

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

Whereas, A multidisciplinary response, involving collaboration among victim service professionals, criminal justice officials, legal professionals, medical and mental health providers, and community leaders is essential to reach and serve all victims—especially those who are marginalized, have disabilities, or live in remote locations;

Whereas, Strengthening the multidisciplinary response—bringing diverse skills, perspectives, and understandings together in the service of victims—also serves to build the resilience of those responders, by strengthening the confidence in their roles, abilities, and sense of contribution;

Whereas, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 2 - 8, 2017, provides an opportunity to recommit to ensuring that all victims of crime—especially those who are challenging to reach or serve—are afforded their rights and receive a trauma-informed response; and

Whereas, The Sauk County District Attorney’s Office and Victim Witness Unit is hereby dedicated to strengthening victims and survivors in the aftermath of crime, building resilience in our communities and our victim responders, and working for justice for all victims and survivors.

  NOW THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED, that the Sauk County Board of Supervisors does hereby proclaim the week of  April  2 – 8, 2017, as Crime Victims’ Rights Week and
reaffirms Sauk County’s commitment 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.

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on March 21, 2017

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

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William Wenzel, Chairperson   John Deitrich, Vice-Chairperson

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Connie Lehman, Secretary    Thomas Kriegl

        
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Wally Czuprynko

Fiscal Note:  No Impact
MIS Note: No Impact