For Immediate Release: April 13, 2016
Contact: Dionne Johnson Calhoun, 202-724-8028, dcalhoun@dccouncil.us
Washington, DC – Today, Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie (D-Ward 5), Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary released the following statement on National Crime Victims’ Rights Week:
“In April, communities across the country observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is observed this year from April 10-16. Americans are the victims of more than 20 million crimes each year, and crime can touch the lives of anyone regardless of age, national origin, race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, immigration or economic status. This year’s theme—Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope.—underscores the importance of early intervention and victim services in establishing trust with victims, which in turn begins to restore their hope for healing and recovery.
I am proud to announce the official launch of the D.C. Victim Hotline, which will provide free, confidential, around-the-clock information and referrals for victims of all crime in the District of Columbia. The Hotline has a special focus on populations, crimes, and topics that are underrepresented or underserved in victim services and provides the following:
- A phone and text hotline: 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732);
- An innovative online chat: www.DCvictim.org/Chat; and
- Online resources: www.DCvictim.org.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is the time to commit to ensuring that all victims —even those who are challenging to reach or serve—are offered culturally and linguistically accessible and appropriate services in the aftermath of crime. I express my sincere gratitude for the community members, victim services providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving our response to all victims of crime so that they may find assistance, support, justice, and peace during what is perhaps the most challenging time of their lives.”
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