'Building trust, restoring hope'

Each year, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Victim/Witness Program recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. April 10 - 16, marks the annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims.

The 2016 theme, “Serving Victims; Building Trust; Restoring Hope,” reminds communities that coming together to support and assist victims helps build trust, restore hope, and break the cycle of violence. Each year there is the opportunity to highlight the diversity of our communities, expand partnerships to provide service to victims of all crimes and to empower crime victims as they pursue safety, justice and healing.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week honors and celebrates the achievements of the past 30 years in securing rights, protections and services for crime victims. In 1984, the bipartisan Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was enacted. This historic legislation created national funds that support crime victim compensation programs. The crime victim compensation programs reimburse victims for many out-of-pocket expenses that they face in the aftermath of crime such as medical care, counseling, funerals, and lost wages.

VOCA funds support services for victims of all types of crime including assistance for homicide survivors, survivors of child sexual abuse and victims of human trafficking. VOCA funds help victim/witness programs, rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs. The VOCA funding received by the Carbon County Victim/Witness Program helps the program support victims of all crime by providing physical, emotional and financial assistance as well as guidance navigating the criminal justice system.