A Timeline of the Legacy of Ronald W. Reagan to the Field of Victims' Rights and Services

"When you established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime on April 23, 1982, you led the nation into a new era in the treatment of victims of crime. Never before has any President recognized the plight of those forgotten by the criminal justice system—the innocent victims of crime."

– Lois Haight, Chairman, President's Task Force on Victims of Crime

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and thousands of crime victims and their advocates are grateful to President Ronald Reagan for his vision and leadership in promoting victims' rights and services. President Reagan's early recognition of the plight of victims and survivors of crime has had a profound impact on how America views and treats victims. He was truly a pioneer in the victims' field. As President of the United States , he made crime victims' needs and rights a priority for his Administration, and his impact is evident today with more than 10,000 justice system- and community-based victim assistance programs and more than 32,000 laws that define and protect victims' rights. We pay tribute to President Reagan for his pioneering efforts to advance the cause of victims across the Nation. The following are some of the Reagan Administration's major accomplishments on behalf of crime victims:

1980: Calls for a national observance to recognize and honor victims and survivors of crime. Thousands of crime victim assistance programs, justice agencies, and communities across America join together during National Crime victims' Rights Week to pay tribute to victims of crime, and to educate the public about the many services and rights available to help crime victims across our nation.

1982: Signs Executive Order 12360 establishing the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime in 1982. The Task Force issued a Report containing 68 recommendations to improve how victims of crime are treated by all segments of society.

Signs into law the Federal Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982, which delineates certain rights for crime victims in the federal justice system, and directs the Attorney General of the United States to establish guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims.

Signs the Missing and Exploited Children's Act of 1982 that helps parents guarantee that identifying information about their missing child is promptly entered into the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer system.

1983: Creates the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the U.S. Department of Justice. OVC was later authorized in statute by an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). OVC serves as a driving force behind efforts to treat victims with dignity and respect, implement their rights under law, and educate the public about the impact of crime on victims, families, and communities.

Authorizes the creation of the Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence that, for the first time, examined the scope and impact of domestic violence in America , and developed recommendations to improve our Nation's law enforcement, criminal justice, and community response to offenses that, previously, were considered merely "family matters."

Hosts the first-ever White House ceremony to honor crime victims.

Declares the first National Missing Children's Day in observance of the disappearance of missing child Etan Patz.

1984: Signs the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984 [42 U.S.C. 10601]. This federal legislation created a Crime Victims Fund in the U.S. Treasury made up of fines, penalties, and bond forfeitures collected from convicted federal defendants, and provides funding for a wide variety of crime victim services and state victim compensation programs (with funds available today in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. Territories).

Supports and signs into law the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which provided strong incentives to states to raise their minimum drinking age to 21.

Establishes Crime Prevention Week marked by a White House ceremony with McGruff, the crime-fighting mascot of the National Crime Prevention Council.

Signs the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, which earmarks federal funding for programs serving victims of domestic violence.

Creates the National Child Safety Partnership with 26 member organizations to enhance private sector efforts to promote child safety and public awareness of child abuse.

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