Bill Text: NJ SJR53 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates last full week in April as "Crime Victims' Rights Week."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-10-18 - Substituted by AJR17 (1R) [SJR53 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SJR53-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOHN A. GIRGENTI
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Designates last full week in April as "Crime Victims' Rights Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the last full week in April as "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in New Jersey.
Whereas, According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, in 2008, residents of the United States 12 years of age or older were victims of more than 21 million crimes, which consisted of 4.9 million violent crimes, 16.3 million property crimes, and 136,700 personal thefts; and
Whereas, According to the National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide, in 2008, 203,830 rapes or sexual assaults were committed against victims 12 years of age or older, and more than half of these sex crimes were unreported; and
Whereas, According to the New Jersey 2010 Uniform Crime Report, in 2008, 28,281 violent crimes were committed and 198,896 nonviolent crimes were committed, which amounts to one violent crime committed against victims every 18 minutes and 35 seconds and one nonviolent crime committed against victims every two minutes and 39 seconds; and
Whereas, All fifty states and the District of Columbia have passed laws giving crime victims certain legal rights, including: the right to attend and be heard at criminal justice proceedings; the right to be notified of available services and of the status of the offender; and the right to receive an order of restitution and apply for compensation; and
Whereas, In 2004, the United States Congress passed the Crime Victims' Rights Act, which gives victims of violent crime the right to be present at federal criminal justice public proceedings, the right to be notified at critical points in the justice process, and the legal standing to have those rights enforced; and
Whereas, As crime victims' rights are carried into 2010 and beyond, society must strive to protect, restore, and expand crime victims' rights and services so that they apply to every victim, every time; and
Whereas, Establishing a "Crime Victims' Rights Week," the last full week of April of each year, offers the opportunity to recommit the State of New Jersey to ensuring that every victim is afforded his or her legal rights and treated as a crucial participant in our criminal justice system; and
Whereas, "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in this State will serve to celebrate the progress that has been made in crime victims' rights and services and build public awareness about the many challenges that still face victims in the aftermath of crime; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature hereby designates the last full week in April of each year as "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in New Jersey. In so doing, the Legislature will be drawing attention to victims' rights and ensure that every individual who is victimized by crime is provided compassionate and adequate support to recover from the impact of crime and is given the opportunity to participate fully in the criminal justice system.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the last full week of April in each year as "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in the State of New Jersey.
The joint resolution seeks to build public awareness about the many challenges victims face after a crime and ensure that every individual who is victimized by crime is provided compassionate and adequate support to recover from the impact of crime and is given the opportunity to fully participate in the criminal justice system.
