Williamson National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony Scheduled

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS — County officials have scheduled a National Crime Victims' Rights Week observance next month to raise awareness of available resources and services.

The observance scheduled from April 7-13 aims to heighten awareness to crime victims' issues and rights, and alerting them of services to which they can avail themselves.

National statistics point to the need for greater awareness. According to county-provided stats, the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey reports that U.S. residents age 12 or older experienced 3.1 million violent victimizations, and U.S. households experienced an estimated 13.3 million property crimes in 2017.

This year’s theme is “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.” The theme celebrates the progress made on behalf of crime victims and looks to a future of crime victim services that is even more inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed.

In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a ceremony will take place on April 10 to recognize extraordinary individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to victims of crime and victim services. Individuals demonstrating this exceptional service have been nominated by the offices and organizations who support survivors in Williamson County. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. in the meeting room on the second floor of the Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. The event is free and open to the public.

County Judge Bill Gravell is scheduled to serve as emcee for the event. Prior to being elected County Judge, Gravell was the justice of the peace for Precinct 3. County officials noted that Gravell’s dedication to the cause of awareness is rooted in a promise he made to a crime victim.

“I made a promise to Jowell Perez, a child who had been murdered and was my first non-natural death pronouncement as Justice of the Peace, that if I was ever in a position of influence, that I would ensure that Williamson County always did everything it could to support victims and their families, and we would hold accountable those who commit the crimes,” Gravell said in a prepared statement.

The theme for the event celebrating survivors in Williamson County is “…In Plain Sight” a tribute and recognition that our community is comprised of wonderful people with invisible scars. Walking among us are champions of hope who wear no labels. Some may not be among us anymore; their lives are testaments to the strength that makes up Williamson County and we stand with them.

The National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony is coordinated by the victim advocates of Williamson County. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week was started in 1982 by the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime to encourage a national commitment to a more equitable and supportive response to victims.