April 7-13 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

On April 2, 2019 the Board of Supervisors approved a Gold Resolution proclaiming National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is commemorated April 7–13, 2019. This year’s theme—Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.—celebrates the progress made by those before us as we look to a future of crime victim services that is even more inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed.

NCVRW is a time to recognize victims and survivors in our community and promote healing through understanding and providing services. This is also a time to acknowledge the hard work of the service providers in the victim services division of the District Attorney’s Office, the community-based advocates located at the Sonoma County Family Justice Center, and the many other victim advocates located throughout the county.

District Attorney Jill Ravitch noted that, “Every year our advocates connect with and provide services to a greater number of people in our community impacted by crime. This week is a time to acknowledge the courage and resilience demonstrated by those victims, and to reinforce our commitment to doing justice on behalf of those victims. It is also a time to recognize the fine work done by victim advocates and others working hard to support victims of crime every day.”

Director of Victim Services, Michelle Carstensen, plans on additional outreach to the community to increase awareness of victimization and services available. She is a member of the Family Violence Prevention Counsel and is coordinating a Strangulation Prevention Training at Finley Center on June 20, 2019 featuring Gael Strack and Bill Hernendez. Go to Eventbrite for details and registration.