Arnold/JA commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 8-14 Published April 9, 2018 By Leslie McGowan AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- The Arnold Legal Office, in commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 8-14, is recognizing organizations that have been fighting for victims’ rights for decades, forging new partnerships to address current problems, and strengthening existing partnerships.NCVRW is an annual observance to bring communities together and educate the public about victims’ rights, protections and services. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) of the U.S. Department of Justice leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of NCVRW by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme – Expand the Circle, Reach All Victims – emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary responses and building the capacity of individuals, service providers and communities to respond to crime and support the ongoing healing of victims and survivors. Collaboration between victim service providers, criminal justice professionals, and other allied profes¬sionals has been integral to this movement and the push for practice-based, trauma-informed services for all vic¬tims of crime. In addition, strong partnerships create op-portunities to organize events, such as awareness days, educational presentations, and other activities, to honor victims, survivors, their families and our community. The power of these partnerships launched the crime victims’ rights movement, and the achievements are celebrated every year. Families of murdered children and victims of sexual assault, drunk driving, domestic violence and other crimes mobilized at the grassroots level, joining forces to demand justice for victims of crime. The National Campaign for Victims’ Rights, founded by these partners, led to President Ronald Reagan’s reforms on behalf of crime victims, his declaration of the first NCVRW, and the creation of the Victims of Crime Act and Crime Victims Fund, whose anniversary we celebrate this week. Through our partnerships and community building, we have made history.The OVC and the Arnold Legal Office encourage widespread participation in this week’s events and in other victim-related observances throughout the year. The U.S. Department of Justice will host an OVC annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony April 13 in Washington, D.C., to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime. The Arnold Legal Office will commemorate the advancement of victims’ rights and highlight issues surrounding victimization on April 13 at 1 p.m. in the Administration & Engineering building, room B120. Anyone interested is invited to honor champions in advocating for expanded support and services to communities affected by crime and to become familiar with our local agencies and resources available. For additional information about this year’s NCVRW and how to assist victims in your community, contact the Victim Witness Assistance Program coordinator at (931) 454-4657. For additional ideas on how to support victims of crime, visit the OVC website, www.ovc.gov.