Victims' Rights
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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April 22-28 is nationally recognized as Crime Victims' Rights Week. This a time for all of us to learn about victimization, reflect on the cost of crime to our society, and promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims and those affected by crime rebuild their lives.
If you have never been a victim of crime or violence you may be thinking, "What does this have to do with me?" The truth is, we are all affected in some way by the escalating levels of crime and violence in this country. Not only can this cause physical and emotional distress for the victims but it can also affect family, friends, and coworkers. Violence can negatively impact a person's ability to enjoy life or to live without fear. It can also affect entire communities, as we have just witnessed in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech attack. Once we acknowledge that crime and violence affects us all we can then develop positive solutions to make a difference. This is what National Crime Victims' Rights Week is all about, supporting victims of crime and helping to prevent future victimization.
Here are a number of ways that you can help:
-Be supportive to family, friends, or coworkers that have been victimized.
-Keep an eye out for those not-so-obvious victims around you.
-Check in with your elderly friend or neighbor, who may be vulnerable to exploitation or abuse.
-Be alert to the teens in your life whose behavior may have suddenly changed, who may be experiencing dating violence or abuse at home.
-Learn to recognize possible domestic violence and child abuse situations.
-Know what rights and services are available for victims in your community.
-Find out where to report suspected child or elder abuse.
-Find out about legislative initiatives to strengthen victims' rights and expand victim services, and let your voice be heard.
-Support victim services and victims' rights.
-Make sure political candidates know that crime victim issues are important to you.
It's also recommended that you consider attending some personal safety, crime prevention, and self-defense courses. Encourage your family and friends to attend such courses as well. Generally, these courses will provide participants with the necessary knowledge to improve their own safety as well as the safety of their loved ones. However, keep in mind that there is a vast difference between self-defense and martial arts which should be taken into consideration before signing up for such a class.
There are obviously no guarantees that following the above steps will eliminate crime and violence or prevent future victimization. However, if we all make an effort to implement just a few of those steps there is a very good chance that it will make a difference.
Steve Zorn
Warsaw, via e-mail
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April 22-28 is nationally recognized as Crime Victims' Rights Week. This a time for all of us to learn about victimization, reflect on the cost of crime to our society, and promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims and those affected by crime rebuild their lives.
If you have never been a victim of crime or violence you may be thinking, "What does this have to do with me?" The truth is, we are all affected in some way by the escalating levels of crime and violence in this country. Not only can this cause physical and emotional distress for the victims but it can also affect family, friends, and coworkers. Violence can negatively impact a person's ability to enjoy life or to live without fear. It can also affect entire communities, as we have just witnessed in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech attack. Once we acknowledge that crime and violence affects us all we can then develop positive solutions to make a difference. This is what National Crime Victims' Rights Week is all about, supporting victims of crime and helping to prevent future victimization.
Here are a number of ways that you can help:
-Be supportive to family, friends, or coworkers that have been victimized.
-Keep an eye out for those not-so-obvious victims around you.
-Check in with your elderly friend or neighbor, who may be vulnerable to exploitation or abuse.
-Be alert to the teens in your life whose behavior may have suddenly changed, who may be experiencing dating violence or abuse at home.
-Learn to recognize possible domestic violence and child abuse situations.
-Know what rights and services are available for victims in your community.
-Find out where to report suspected child or elder abuse.
-Find out about legislative initiatives to strengthen victims' rights and expand victim services, and let your voice be heard.
-Support victim services and victims' rights.
-Make sure political candidates know that crime victim issues are important to you.
It's also recommended that you consider attending some personal safety, crime prevention, and self-defense courses. Encourage your family and friends to attend such courses as well. Generally, these courses will provide participants with the necessary knowledge to improve their own safety as well as the safety of their loved ones. However, keep in mind that there is a vast difference between self-defense and martial arts which should be taken into consideration before signing up for such a class.
There are obviously no guarantees that following the above steps will eliminate crime and violence or prevent future victimization. However, if we all make an effort to implement just a few of those steps there is a very good chance that it will make a difference.
Steve Zorn
Warsaw, via e-mail
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