2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Newport News
[Newport News, Virginia] — National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is April 21-27, 2024. The Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is commemorating this important awareness week by hosting and participating in events that encourage members of the community to learn how to help survivors.
In 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.6 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million, only about 42% were reported to police. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in Newport News champions support for victims of crime, who frequently testify in court to bring justice for themselves and added safety to their communities. Our Victim-Witness Advocates are assigned to every violent crime case to assist victims with the court process and help them find the resources they need.
Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn has spent his career leading an office that provides support to the victims of violent crime. “When crime victims come forward, we will do everything in our power to support them, to understand the trauma they’ve survived, and to get justice for them and for our community,” said Gwynn.
Join Us!
This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” We must create an environment in which victims and survivors feel safe talking about what happened to them. The theme aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find help— including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community. We must all be prepared to offer support.
The Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is proud to join the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and communities throughout the United States during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and their advocates.
This National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will share information about the options and services available for crime survivors by holding events to speak with survivors and everyone who may find themselves in a position to support a crime survivor. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week events are open to the public, and we invite you to join us at these events.
For additional information about this year’s Newport News National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, please contact Zierra Wilson, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator, at (757) 926-7257. To learn more about how to support all victims of crime, visit the Office for Victims of Crime’s website at ovc.ojp.gov.