Backup Documents 04/13/2010 Item # 4CPROCLAMATION 4C
WHEREAS, 21 mil /ion Americans suffer the indignity of being a victim of a crime each year and
may experience emotional, physical, psychological, and financial harm as a result of
such crime; and
WHEREAS, a just nation acknowledges crime's impact on individuals, families, and communities
and ensures that victims are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect as they
interact with the criminal justice system, and
WHEREAS, a decades -long struggle to balance the scales of justice resulted in victims' rights
laws in every state and more than 32 state constitutional victims' rights amendments
that enshrine the ideals of fairness, dignity, and respect for victims of crime, and
WHEREAS, treating victims with dignity serves the public interest by providing protections for
child and sexual assault victims, ordering and enforcing victim restitution from
offenders, and notifying victims of their right to compensation and services, thereby
giving hope to victims that the system and society will work to restore dignity and
respect their needs and rights, and
WHEREAS, National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 1B - 24, 2010, provides an opportunity
for us to raise awareness of the foundation of victims' rights - fairness, dignity,
and respect -and to recommit to honoring those values by ensuring that all victims
are afforded their legal rights and provided with assistance as they face the
financial, physical, and psychological impact of crime, and,
WHEREAS, the Collier County Sheriff's Office, the State Attorney's Office, Project Help, and
the Shelter for Abused Women and Children are joining forces with other victim
service programs, criminal justice officials, and concerned citizens throughout Collier
County and America to raise awareness of victims' rights and observe National Crime
Victims' Rights Week.
NOW THEREFORE, be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County,
Florida, that April 18 - 24, 2010 be designated as
CRIME VICTIMS' RI6HT5 WEEK
and reaffirm Collier County's commitment to respect and enforce victims' rights and
address their needs during Crime Victims' Rights Week and throughout the year, and
express our appreciation for those victims and crime survivors who have turned
persona/ tragedy into a motivating force to improve our response to victims of crime
and build a more just community.
DONE AND ORDERED THIS 13th Day of April, 2010.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
COYLE, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST.•
DWI6HT E. BROOK, CLERK