WHEREAS, the term “victim” is more than just a label and has legal standing and protections that go along with it; and
WHEREAS, crime victims’ rights acts passed here in Utah and at the federal level guarantee victims the right to meaningfully participate and use their voice in the criminal justice process; and
WHEREAS, victim service providers, advocates, law enforcement officers, attorneys, and other allied professionals can help survivors find justice by enforcing these rights; and
WHEREAS, the right to provide an impact statement ensures that victims’ voices are considered in court during the sentencing and when applicable, restitution processes; and
WHEREAS, including and elevating the voices of survivors makes certain they are heard and seen and creates a path to forging and sustaining community trust; and
WHEREAS, engaging survivors creates responses and services that are credible, meaningful, and centered on individual needs; and
WHEREAS, survivors’ lived experiences can serve as a catalyst for implementing innovative programs, shifting existing programs in new directions, and changing policies or practices that prevent survivors from accessing services or pursuing justice; and
WHEREAS, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week provides an opportunity to recommit to listening to crime survivors in every space where decisions are made that could impact them; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City is dedicated to amplifying the voices of survivors and creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported; and
WHEREAS, we express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for those community members, victim service providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving our response to all victims of crime so that they may find relevant assistance, support, justice, and peace; and
WHEREAS, we reaffirm our commitment to creating a victim service and criminal justice response that assists all victims of crime during Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City, proclaim April 23-29, 2023, as:
Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Salt Lake City
To view the electronically signed copy of the proclamation, click here.