April 20, 2020
In commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), the Utah Attorney General’s Office is raising awareness about crime victims’ rights and honoring the hard work of those committed to advocating for victims. This year’s theme, “Seek Justice | Ensure Victims’ Rights | Inspire Hope” celebrates the progress made by those before us as we look to a future of crime victim services that are even more inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed.
According to the 2018 Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey, U.S. residents age 12 or older experienced 3.3 million violent victimizations and U.S. households experienced an estimated 13.5 million property crimes.
In previous years, NCVRW was kicked off by a candlelight vigil on the Utah State Capitol steps, where families and friends gathered to honor the lives of lost victims to crime, survivors shared their stories, and services and resources were shared. This year, the candlelight vigil has been postponed until Sunday. June 7th.
This week, there are several virtual events you can participate in to help show your support:
- Uplift with a Message of Hope – Create a short video with an uplifting message of hope for victims of all crimes to remind them that they are not alone. Or, you can take a picture holding a sign saying, “I Stand for Victim’s Rights”.
- #1BlueNail – For a simple and fun way to show your support, paint your ring fingernail blue to show your support as we all stand for victims’ rights. Take a picture or video and tag it with #1BlueNail and #NCVRW.
- Tune in to Their Stories – The Utah Survivors Podcast will have episodes dedicated to NCVRW as they share victims’ and survivors’ stories, discuss victims’ rights, and share resources. Tune into their podcast here or on Spotify.
- Spot the Bus – Take a walk during the day and try to spot the 2020 NCVRW banners on the back of busses in the Wasatch Front starting April 1st to April 28th. Take a picture and tag it with #NCVRW2020.
- Tag You’re It – Whether you participate in the events above or just want to show your support, tag your posts with the following tags:
- #NCVRW2020
- #NCVRW2020SeekJustice
- #NCVRW2020EnsureVictimsRights
- #NCVRW2020InspireHope
Stay tuned for more ways you can show support in the coming months. For additional information about this year’s NCVRW and how to assist victims in your community, please visit the NCVRW Facebook page.
View a list of national resources available to victims of crime with survivor assistance.
Watch Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes’ message for NCVRW below: