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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.2 Victims’ Rights Week ProclamationSTAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 1 Agenda Item 3.2 DATE:April 19,2022 TO:Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM:Linda Smith, City Manager SUBJECT:Victims’ Rights Week ProclamationPreparedby:Cierra Fabrigas,Executive Aide EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:The City Council will present the Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:Present the proclamation. FINANCIAL IMPACT:None. DESCRIPTION:The City Council will present the Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:The City Council Agenda was posted. ATTACHMENTS:1)Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation 12 Attachment 1 A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA “Victims’ Rights Week – April 24-30, 2022” WHEREAS, more than 26 million people become victims of crime each year, and these crimes also affect family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers; and the Alameda County Victim/Witness Division is dedicated to ensuring the rights of crime victims and their families by providing services to aid in their recovery from the emotional, psychological, social, and economic impact of crime as they reclaim their sense of safety, wellbeing, and dignity. The Victim/Witness staff assists victims of crime without regard to a person’s race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status; and WHEREAS, victims are faced with many challenges as a result of crime; victims often enter systems that fail to meet their needs, provide appropriate services and treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve; and involving survivors helps victim service providers and criminal justice professionals understand the culture, values, and expectations of underserved and unserved victims who seek assistance and justice; and WHEREAS, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Program was the first such program established in 1974. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office continues to join forces with the victim service providers, criminal justice agencies, and concerned citizens throughout Alameda County and America to raise awareness of victim’s rights and observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week; and WHEREAS, in 1984, the Crime Victims Fund was established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to provide a permanent source of support for crime victim services and compensation. Survivors, community service providers, criminal justice professionals and victim advocates are working together to enhance a criminal justice system response that is accessible, culturally competent, and appropriate for all victims of crime; and WHEREAS, in 2021, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Division provided over 2,701 services to more than 434 crime victims in Dublin including, but not limited to, child victims of violence and sexual abuse, stalking victims, survivors of homicide victims, human trafficking, elders and dependent adult victims, sexual assault, domestic violence victims, and victims of robbery and other crimes. The District Attorney’s Office also facilitated financial support for victims of crime without independent financial means through the victim Compensation Program; and WHEREAS, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has been a leader in outreach and services to underserved populations including commercial sexual exploitation of children, sexual assault victims from cold hit/DNA cases, immigrant victims, urban youth, victims in the LGBTQ community, andvictims with disabilities such as the deaf and hard of hearing. The District Attorney’s Office has been bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community and building the community’s trust in the Criminal Justice System. WHEREAS, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 24-30, 2022, provides an opportunity to celebrate the energy, creativity and commitment that launched the victims’ rights movement, inspired its progress, and continues to advance the cause of justice for crime victims. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dublin City Council does hereby proclaim April 24-30, 2022 to be Victims’ Rights Week in the City of Dublin and reaffirms the commitment to respect and enforce victims’ rights and address their needs during Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year; and express our appreciation for those victims and survivors of crime who have turned personal tragedy into a motivating force to improve the response to victims of crime and build a more just community. DATED: April 19, 2022 Mayor Melissa Hernandez Vice Mayor Jean Josey Councilmember Sherry Hu Councilmember Shawn Kumagai Councilmember Michael McCorriston 13