LAKE COUNTY – This week local and state officials are commemorating the rights of crime victims.
The US Department of Justice, the Office of Justice Programs and the Office for Victims of Crime declared this week, April 18-24, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and the theme is, “Fairness. Dignity. Respect.”
The Lake County Board of Supervisors declared that this Week be National Victims’ Rights Week and Wednesday, April 21, as Denim Day.
Victims of crime can sometimes face public ridicule and be stigmatized as a result of their experiences.
Denim Day was dubbed so after a ruling in Italy that let a rapist off the hook because his victim wore tight jeans.
Lake County’s Victim-Witness Division, located on 420 Second St. in Lakeport, has been promoting crime victims’ rights week through radio PSAs and an eye-catching flyer that they asked local businesses and government agencies to hang in their windows.
They serve about 1,500 victims of crime per year in Lake County, the division reported.
Although that statistic seems low, that does not count the many cases of crime where victims did not come forward and therefore did not get included in that statistic.
The Victim-Witness Division also hosted a free luncheon on Thursday at their Lakeport office for those who have helped and advocate for victims of crime, such as first responders.
“Our experience at the Victim-Witness Office is that everyone we come in contact with that is assisting or has assisted a victim of a violent crime has done so with fairness dignity and respect just like this year’s theme states,” said Deborah Wallace, Victim-Witness Program coordinator. “The Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Victim/Witness Division salutes all the dedicated individuals who provide services and resources to crime victims!”
Wallace said she knows for a fact that Lake County’s Victim-Witness Division is much more progressive and forward thinking than most Victim-Witness offices throughout the state.
“There are numerous reasons the Lake County Victim-Witness Office is more creative and active than most VW Offices in California. Most importantly we have the support and confidence of our District Attorney Jon Hopkins and his staff to represent the District Attorney's Office in a professional manner,” said Wallace.
There is a large suite of services available for victims of crime.
Some services available include helping victims file temporary restraining orders, home security improvements in certain circumstances, relocation, crisis intervention, resource referrals, orientation into the criminal justice system, case status and disposition, court support, transportation, assistance in filing for services through the Victim Compensation & Government Claims Board, funeral/burial assistance for family members of a homicide or a fatal DUI crash.
The Victim-Witness Division also is active in the Lake County Gang Task force, Team DUI and “Every 15 Minutes,” and is currently working with American Indian communities in Lake County to be able to provide services to victims of crime in that community, said Wallace.
To show your support and acknowledgment of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week you can wear a blue or gold ribbon, or call 707-262-4282 and ask for Wallace to find out how to donate.
“Lake County Victim-Witness has an outstanding and highly trained staff that excels at providing services for victims of crime, from the start of their arduous journey to the disposition of the case,” Wallace said.
For more information, visit http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/, www.ovc.gov/, www.crimevictims.gov and www.victimlaw.info.
E-mail Tera deVroede at
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