This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

April 6-12 is National Victims' Rights Week

The following is a message from SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments) Executive Director, Nina Clymer:

April 6-12 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week -- a time when our country honors victims of crime and the work and justice achieved by advocates since the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was enacted in 1984. This year is especially significant as it marks 30 years since the passage of that landmark legislation.

Prior to VOCA, resources and support for crime victims were severely inadequate. Victims and their loved ones had few resources to help them deal with the aftermath of crime: trauma, medical bills, income loss, funeral and burial experiences, relocation and other needs.

Find out what's happening in Fremontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One of the ways VOCA addressed the rights of victims was by creating an infrastructure of programs and resources funded through fines and penalties levied on federal criminal offenders. The Crime Victims Fund led to change across the country as well as justice and assistance for victims via resources such as counseling and shelter programs.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s chosen theme this year is 30 Years: Restoring the Balance of Justice. But while this week honors the significant achievements in victim rights and assistance, there is still work to be done. Victims’ rights organizations are expanding their focus to provide aid to a much broader spectrum of our population, including LGBTQ crime victims, labor and sex trafficking victims, and victims with disabilities.

Find out what's happening in Fremontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, Joye E. Frost, is calling on law enforcement, advocates, and communities to continue their fight for justice. While this week is a celebration of achievements, it is also “a reminder of the work still before us in restoring the balance of justice to all those harmed by crime.”

SAVE is proud to be one of the reputable valuable victims’ resources and we’ll continue to work diligently to ensure they receive the support and resources they deserve.

If you are the victim of a crime or are being victimized, help is available. You are not alone. SAVE specifically serves victims of intimate partner violence but we provide support and referrals, depending on your needs. SAVE’s 24-hour hotline is (510) 794-6055 or visit us online at www.save-dv.org. And for more information about the California Crime Victims Program, visit http://vcgcb.ca.gov/victims/ or call (800) 777-9229.

About SAVE:  SAVE is a community based organization with over 30 years of expertise in providing intimate partner violence prevention and support services to residents of the Tri-Cities, the Bay Area, and beyond. SAVE’s innovative support, advocacy, and educational programs give victims and their families the strength and resources to end the cycle of violence and rebuild their lives. Services include emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, children’s programs, and much more. SAVE assists any victim of intimate partner violence regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, language spoken, or geographic location. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?