National Crime Victims' Rights Week
Justice Isn't Served Until Crime Victims Are
April 10-16, 2005

Each year OVC helps lead communities across the country in their observances of National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). The annual commemoration promotes victims' rights and services in all sectors of our society. This year's ceremony marks the 25th observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, first proclaimed by President Reagan in 1981.

• Resources
• Crimevictims.gov - new public awareness web site.
• Scheduled Events -
  • National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony
  • National Crime Victims' Rights Week Awards Ceremony
  • Observances of NCVRW 2005
• Victim Service Award Ceremony
• NCVRW Community Awareness Projects
• Coverage of Local Crime Victims' Rights Week Events
• Press about NCVRW Honorees
• NCVRW Origins: President Ronald Reagan's Legacy

Resources

OVC recently released the 2005 Resource Guide for National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The Guide was developed to help communities promote awareness of victim issues and comes complete with camera-ready art files on CD-ROM, posters, and sample PSAs. Contents include:

• Victimization statistics
• Sample PSAs and speeches
• Special event ideas
• Contest guidelines
• Camera-ready art files
• Special Features Pamphlets:
• A Tribute to President Ronald W. Reagan
• The History of the Crime Victims' Movement in the United States
• A Retrospective of the 1982 President's Task Force on Victims of Crime

Order your copy online (request NCJ 207049). OVC offers a wide range of other resources to help providers assist crime victims. Call the OVC Resource Center at 1-800-851-3420 (TTY 1-877-712-9279) to find out more.

Also available is the NCVRW Theme DVD (NCJ 208513), which highlights some of the notable achievements in crime victims' rights over the past 25 years. View a video clip from the 5-minute DVD.

Scheduled Events

OVC held two events in Washington, D.C., leading up to National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 10-16, 2005:

National Observance and Candlelight Ceremony
Thursday, April 7, 2005
6:30–7:30 p.m.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1615 H Street, NW, Washington, DC
Featured Speaker: Trisha Meili, Survivor and Author of I AM THE CENTRAL PARK JOGGER: A Story of Hope and Possibility
No RSVP necessary

National Crime Victims' Rights Week Awards Ceremony
Friday, April 8, 2005
2:30–5:00 p.m.
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington , DC
RSVP required to 202-973-8715 or ncvrw@courtesyassoc.com

For more information about these events, please contact: ncvrw@courtesy.com

Victim Service Award Ceremony

The Office for Victims of Crime annually recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services. Winners were selected from public nominations (PDF 460 kb) for awards in seven categories:

• National Crime Victim Service Award
• Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services
• Special Courage Award
• Allied Professional Award
• Volunteer for Victims Award
• Crime Victims Fund Award
• Federal Service Award

Please note: The nomination form timeline of landmarks in victims' rights and services has been corrected to show 1981 as the first year Crime Victims' Rights Week was observed.

Recipients of the awards were honored in Washington, D.C., as part of the federal commemoration of National Crime Victims' Rights Week:

• 2005 NCVRW Award Recipients (bios)
• NCVRW Press Release - April 8, 2005