PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Attorney General Jane Brady, the Attorney General's Director of Victim/Witness Services - Mariann Kenville-Moore and victims/survivors of violent crime will be available throughout National Crime Victims' Rights Week for media interviews. Please use contact information below to arrange for interviews.




Contact: Lori Sitler/Janice Fitzsimons

Phone: (302) 577-8314

Pager: (302) 247-1132

Date: April 4, 2005



NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK TO BE OBSERVED IN DELAWARE

"Justice Isn't Served Until Crime Victims Are" is this year's theme



(Wilmington, DE): During the week of April 10th through the 16th, Delaware will commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week. This year's theme, "Justice Isn't Served Until Crime Victims Are," serves as a reminder of the value and importance of crime victim services as a core component of justice in America - services that offer victims help and hope in the aftermath of criminal victimization.' 



In 1981, President Ronald W. Reagan declared the first "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." Therefore, 2005 marks the Silver Anniversary of this national commemorative week. The 25th anniversary observance is dedicated to the memory of President Reagan, whose vision addressed the plight of crime victims for the first time on a national level, and whose leadership and actions resulted in the creation of many policies and programs that promoted crime victims' rights and services, including the creation of the federal Office for Victims of Crime and the establishment of the Crime Victims Fund. 



Attorney General Brady said, "Victims' Rights Week provides an important opportunity to recognize the strength and courage of victims of crime, and to re-affirm our commitment to provide them dignity and respect as well as our support." 



The Delaware Victims' Rights Task Force, of which the Attorney General's Office is a member, will sponsor the following events:



7 A Proclamation Signing Ceremony with the Honorable John C. Carney, Jr, Lt. Governor of Delaware, on Monday, April 11th at 10:30 a.m. in the Governor's Wilmington office, 12th floor, Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French St. 



7 An Award Ceremony, sponsored by the Task Force, to honor an outstanding 

professional, organization and volunteer who have made a difference in the lives 

of crime victims will be held immediately following the Proclamation Signing

Ceremony in the same location. The award for Outstanding Professional will be presented to Kim Book, a survivor of violent crime, for her work with Victims' Voices Heard. This year's Outstanding Agency is the Wilmington Police Department Victim Services Unit. Dolly Banks and Kiley Purcell of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will share the Outstanding Volunteer award. 



7 The 14th Annual Victim Tribute will be held on Wednesday, April 13th at 6:30

p.m. at the Modern Maturity Center, 1121 Forest Ave. (Route 8) in Dover. This year's Guest Speaker will be Connie Logan. Logan's teenage son, Cameron, a student at Salesianum High School, was killed by a drunk driver on Route 202 in May, 2001. Connie Logan will talk about her experience in the aftermath of this tragedy including her meeting with the young woman who was convicted for the crime. 



Attorney General Jane Brady and the Department of Justice's Director of Victim Services, Mariann Kenville-Moore, will take part in the evening's program. 



A Memorial Wall with letters, poems and artwork submitted by victims and survivors of crime as well as the Silent Witnesses will be on display. Resource tables with information about services for crime victims will also be available. 



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