NATION’S PROSECUTORS JOIN IN RECOGNITION OF “NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK”
ALEXANDRIA, VA – April 25, 2006 – TThe National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) joins with victims’ groups and communities across America in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – “Victims’ Rights: Strength in Unity – April 23 – 29, 2006.” Prosecutors have increasingly worked side by side with all types of groups whose mission is to help victims of crimes and their families. In many instances, prosecutors share office space with victim advocates to help them render more efficient and effective help to people who become victims of crime.
According to Paul A. Logli, President of NDAA and State’s Attorney in Winnebago County, IL, “Every day in the life of a prosecutor is crime victims’ rights day. Prosecutors are charged with the responsibility of seeking truth and justice for crime victims and their families. They work to ensure the rights of victims of crimes by holding criminals accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law and by helping victims and families to navigate their way through a system that is both confusing and intimidating. By joining forces with victims’ groups, prosecutors are able to provide victims with a higher level of support.”
Communities across the nation will be holding rallies, candlelight vigils and many other activities to promote victim rights and services. Support for victim advocates, services, assistance and compensation has been made possible largely through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund, authorized by Congress in 1984. The main purpose of the Fund is to assist with the operation of federal, state and local crime victim programs. The Fund is financed primarily through the fines, assessments and fees imposed on federal offenders – not from taxpayers’ dollars. Money put into the Fund is distributed through grants to all 50 states for victim assistance, compensation and advocate training and related services. The Fund also provides resources for assistance such as crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transportation, payment of medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, etc.
State and local prosecutors rely heavily upon the VOCA Fund for the development and implementation of victim services and programs such as notifying victims of court proceedings, assisting victims with victim impact statements/providing notification of offenders’ release dates and assisting victims in recovering restitution. It also makes it possible to work more closely with victims of gang violence, domestic abuse, and child and elder abuse.
Due to scarce federal dollars, it has been proposed that the VOCA Fund in FY 2007 be limited to 625 million dollars and that 1.255 billion dollars be taken from the Fund for other purposes. In a recently passed Resolution, NDAA noted that the impact of such a rescission would have a devastating effect on crime victims and prosecutors’ ability to carry out their mandated duties, as well as to impair the functioning of the criminal justice system. Logli concluded, “As we honor crime victims’ rights this week, we can think of no better time to ask Congress to support the current funding level of the VOCA Fund for FY 2007.”
NDAA has approximately 7,000 members who represent approximately 30,000 prosecutors. More than 95% of all criminal cases are tried by America’s state and local prosecutors.
CONTACT: Velva M. Walter
Director, Media Relations NDAA
703-519-1689 – Email: velva.walter@ndaa-apri.org
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