City of
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, more than 33 million
Americans are victims of crime each year;
WHEREAS, victims may suffer emotional, physical, psychological, and
financial harm as a result of crime;
WHEREAS, victim assistance and compensation programs across the county
provide vital and supportive services for victims that help individuals,
families, and communities cope with the impact of crime;
WHEREAS, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), passed by Congress in 1984,
affirmed a national commitment to helping victims rebuild their lives by
establishing the Crime Victims Fund, a major source of funding for services and
compensation to victims of crime throughout the United States ;
WHEREAS, the Fund comprises fines and penalties levied on offenders and
affirms the principle that those who commit crimes should be held accountable
for their actions;
WHEREAS, the Crime Victims Fund provides support to states for victim
assistance and victim compensation programs, as well as support for federal
victims of crime, child abuse prosecution, emergency reserve to assist victims
of terrorism, and training, and training and technical assistance for the
victim service field;
WHEREAS, the Crime Victims Fund supports more than 4,400 state and
local victim assistance programs, including rape crisis centers, domestic
violence shelters, victim assistants in law enforcement and prosecutor offices,
and other direct service providers that help millions of victims every year;
WHEREAS, victim compensation programs pay for medical and counseling
cost, funeral bills, crime-scene cleanup, and lost wages for victims of crime;
WHEREAS, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – April 26 –May 2, 2009- provides an opportunity for our country to
recognize the Victims of Crime Act as a major bedrock of support for victim
services and to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to addressing the needs of
victims of crime; and
WHEREAS, The Broward Victim’s Rights Coalition is joining forces with
victim service programs, criminal justice officials, and concerned citizens
throughout North Lauderdale, Broward County and America to observe the 25th
anniversary of VOCA during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jack Brady by the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of
CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK
in the City of North Lauderdale and reaffirm the
commitment of Broward County, Florida to helping victims of crime rebuild their
lives through supportive services and victim compensation during National Crime
Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the City of North Lauderdale to be affixed this __________ day of March, 2009.
__________________________________
MAYOR JACK BRADY