Title
Proclamation declaring the Week of April 2-8, 2017 as "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in Los Alamos County (accepted by Adele Girmendonk, LAPD)
Body
WHEREAS: Between 2015 and the first half of 2016, violent crime in America increased 5.3 percent, although Los Alamos County did achieve 22.7% and 11.4% decreases in violent crime and property crime during this period; and
WHEREAS: Only 55 percent of serious violent victimizations and 35 percent of property victimizations were reported to police nation-wide in 2015; and
WHEREAS: Victims and survivors of crime across America need and deserve consistent access to support and assistance to help them cope with the short and long-term consequences of crime; and
WHEREAS: National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 2 - 8, 2017 is an important time to join together across our community, state and nation to celebrate the theme of “Strength, Resilience, Justice”; and
WHEREAS: We support this theme in Los Alamos: we provide strength to victims and survivors by offering services and support that are accessible, culturally competent, victim-centered and trauma-informed; we promote victim/survivor resilience by offering victims voices, choices and options for assistance and support; and we recognize as a community that justice is not served until crime victims are;
NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby proclaim the Week of April 2 - 8, 2017 as
“CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK”
in Los Alamos County, with honor for those who are crime victims or survivors, and with respect for those who serve them.