Gloucester Township Police Chief Speaks Out for National Crime Victims Rights Week

Gloucester Township Police Chief Harry Earle spoke at the 2015 Crime Victims Rights Week Ceremony this week.

A video of his speech is attached to this post.

National Crime Rights Victims Week puts a spotlight on the challenges faced by victims of crime. It also highlights the long struggle to establish victims’ rights, Gloucester Township Police said.

The theme of this year’s event was “Engaging Communities. Empowering Victims.”

It focused on the role communities play providing victims with the support they need to pursue justice and recovery.

It also calls attention to the difficulties experienced by crime victims in underserved communities or in marginalized groups.

Engaging communities and empowering victims takes resources, dedication, and persistence to establish a welcoming, compassionate, and supportive environment for all victims to share their stories.

National Crime Rights Victims Week honors and celebrates the achievements of the past 30 years in securing rights, protections, and services for victims.

The bipartisan Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was passed by Congress in 1984. It created a national fund to ease victims’ suffering.

The Crime Victims Fund supports victim assistance and services, such as rape crisis and domestic violence programs and victim compensation programs that pay victims’ out-of-pocket expenses such as counseling, funeral expenses, and lost wages.

It is funded by fines and penalties paid by offenders.

VOCA is also responsible for victims of once-hidden crimes such as domestic and sexual violence. Outreach is increasingly focused on previously underserved victim populations, including victims of color, religious and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ victims, and immigrant populations, among others.