To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Prosecutor David Leyton
title
RE: 2025 Crime Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Adopt a resolution proclaiming April 6-12, 2025 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has challenged the Nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime. During NCVRW, we recognize the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come. In years past, we have made our local CVRW celebration a part of the Law Day activities sponsored by the Genesee County Bar Association. Covid put a pause to that and we are wishing to reinstate our local commemorations.
DISCUSSION:
This year’s theme of KINSHIP is a call-to-action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. KINSHIP is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections and increases access to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
None
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This proclamation advances the County’s priority of promoting safe communities and doing so in a prompt, efficient and competent manner at no cost to the County, thereby having no negative affect on the County’s financial stability.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
WHEREAS, surviving a crime can have myriad lasting effects on victims, including physical, psychological, social, and financial issues; and
WHEREAS, we know that countless survivors never tell anyone about what happened to them; and
WHEREAS, each of us has a moral responsibility to actively participate in the healing of others; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to create safe environments for survivors of crime, providing not only support but also access to critical services and, above all, hope; and
WHEREAS, victim service providers, community members, businesses, places of worship, colleagues, neighbors, and family members are capable of providing victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive support; and
WHEREAS, we must listen to survivors and be willing to create new options for support to ensure that all victims of crime can receive help and seek justice; and
WHEREAS, we must do everything we can to show survivors that hope - the belief that the future will be better - is not just tangible but within their reach; and
WHEREAS, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week encourages all people to ask themselves the question, “How would you help a victim of crime?” and
WHEREAS, this year’s national theme is “Kinship” and is a call-to-action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime; and
WHEREAS, Genesee County is hereby dedicated to raising awareness of options, services, and hope for crime survivors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, hereby declares April 6 - 12, 2025, as Crime Victims’ Rights Week reaffirming this County’s commitment to supporting and fostering a victim -centered and criminal justice response that assists all victims of crime throughout the year; and expressing our sincere gratitude and appreciation for those community members, victim service providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving our response to all victims of crime so that they may find relevant assistance, support, justice, and peace.