To the editor:

Every year, millions of people’s lives are impacted by crime. Many will need ongoing care and resources as they return to work, pay bills, or support their loved ones. Too many victims suffer in silence and don’t seek the support they need to recover because they are afraid of being judged, intimidated, bullied, threatened or even physically harmed if they share their victimization.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 10-16, is an opportunity to highlight challenges faced by crime victims and emphasize the ongoing struggle to establish victims’ rights. This year’s theme – Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope – underscores the importance of early intervention and victim services in establishing trust with victims, which in turn begins to restore their hopes for healing and recovery. Meeting victims where they are takes resources, dedication, and persistence to establish a welcoming, compassionate, and supportive environment for all victims to share their stories. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week presents the chance to bring to light the importance of providing needed services at the earliest stages of victimization. Early intervention helps prevent both further victimization and involvement in the criminal justice system, thus addressing the cycle of violence and restoring hope for the future.

The bipartisan Victims of Crime Act, passed by Congress in 1984, created a national fund to ease victims’ suffering. Financed by fines and penalties paid by offenders, the Crime Victims Fund supports services for victims of all types of crime. The Crime Victims Fund provides assistance for families affected by homicide, survivors of child sexual abuse, victims of human trafficking, rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs among others. VOCA also funds victim compensation programs that pay victims’ out-of-pocket expenses such as counseling, funeral expenses, and lost wages.

Locally, the Domestic/ Sexual Assault Outreach Center provides safe shelter to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. Persons residing in shelter are provided crisis intervention, safety planning, and provision of basic needs, counseling, and advocacy. D/SAOC also has a Homicide/Other Violent Crimes Program that works to assist families, friends, and neighbors through the trauma of a violent crime. They strive to make necessary obligations easier, more understandable and attainable in the most efficient and caring way possible. Services include survivor support, court accompaniment, counseling, assistance filing for Crime Victims Compensation, and a homicide survivor’s support group. All services are free and confidential.

We all play a role in helping victims as they rebuild their lives. There are many ways to give back. Reach out, listen and support victims as they recover on their own terms. Volunteer to serve at organizations committed to helping crime victims rebuild their lives.

Help promote awareness of victim rights and issues.

If you or someone you know has been affected by a crime and would like more information on any of the services mentioned above, please contact 955-2273.

Marie Nielsen

Homicide/other

violent crimes counselor

Grief recovery specialist

Domestic/Sexual Assault

Outreach Center

Fort Dodge