To: Board of Supervisors
From: Diana Becton, District Attorney
Report Title: National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 6-12, 2025
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No. 2025-XXX proclaiming April 6-12, 2025 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week in promotion of victims' rights and to recognize crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf, as recommended by the District Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this action.
BACKGROUND:
In April 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first national "Crime Victims Week." National Crime Victims' Rights Week offers an opportunity to renew the commitment to crime victims by strengthening partnerships and creating new ones, upholding the constitutional mandates of Marsy's Law and mobilizing organizations and their leaders to continue the commitment to crime victims and the safety of the community. This year’s theme is “Connecting < Kinship > Healing and is a call to action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime.” Victims’ Rights Week recognizes prosecutors, support staff, law enforcement, crime victims and community members who have overcome so much to make the community safer.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
body
IN THE MATTER OF National Crime Victims' Rights Week 2025
WHEREAS, the term “victim” is more than just a label and has legal standing and protections that go along with it;
Whereas crime victims’ rights acts passed here in California and at the federal level guarantee victims the right to meaningfully participate and use their voice in the criminal justice process;
Whereas crime affects individuals, families and communities in profound and varied ways, often leaving lasting physical, emotional and social challenges;
Whereas the right to provide an impact statement ensures that victims’ voices are considered in court during the sentencing and, when applicable, restitution processes;
Whereas including and elevating the voices of survivors makes certain they are heard and seen and creates a path to forging and sustaining community trust;
Whereas engaging survivors creates responses and services that are credible, meaningful, and centered on individual needs;
Whereas the concept of kinship underscores the connections that build bridges to support, services and shared strength among survivors, advocates and communities;
Whereas National Crime Victims’ Rights Week provides an opportunity to recommit to listening to crime survivors in every space where decisions are made that could impact them; and
Whereas Contra Costa County is hereby dedicated to amplifying the voices of survivors and creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: the Board of Supervisors proclaims the week of April 6 - 12, 2025 as Crime Victims' Rights Week, reaffirming the County's commitment to creating a victim service and criminal justice system response that assists all victims of crime during Crime Victims' Rights Week and 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.