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City of San Leandro
<br />City Council
<br />Meeting Date: April 17, 2023
<br />Agenda Number: 3.f.
<br />Agenda Section: RECOGNITIONS
<br />File Number: 23-155
<br />File Type: Presentation
<br />Proclamation for National Victims’ Rights Week April 23-29, 2023
<br />NATIONAL VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK
<br />April 23-29, 2023
<br />Whereas, more than 26 million people become victims of crime each year, and these crimes also affect
<br />family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers; and the Alameda County Victim/Witness Division is
<br />dedicated to ensuring the rights of crime victims and their families by providing services to aid in their
<br />recovery from the emotional, psychological, social and economic impact of crime as they reclaim their sense of
<br />safety, well - being and dignity. The Victim/Witness staff assists victims of crime without regard to a person’s
<br />race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, and gender identity or immigration status.
<br />Whereas, victims are faced with many challenges as a result of crime; often times, victims enter
<br />systems that fail to meet their needs, provide appropriate services and fail to treat them with the dignity and
<br />respect they deserve; and involving survivors helps victim service providers and criminal justice professionals
<br />understand the culture, values, and expectations of underserved and unserved victims who seek assistance
<br />and justice; and
<br />Whereas, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Program was the
<br />first such program established in 1974, beginning with one Victim Advocate. Today, the Alameda County
<br />District Attorney’s Office employs more than 60 individuals dedicated to working with Victims of Crime.
<br />Whereas, in 1984, the Crime Victims Fund was established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to
<br />provide a permanent source of support for crime victim services and compensation. Alameda County District
<br />Attorney’s Office Victim-Witness Assistance Division partners with survivors, community service providers,
<br />criminal justice professionals and victim advocates are working together to enhance a criminal justice system
<br />response that is accessible, culturally competent and appropriate for all victims of crime;
<br />Whereas, in 2022, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Division
<br />provided over 4,392 services to more than 564 crime victims in San Leandro, including but not limited to, child
<br />victims of violence and sexual abuse, stalking victims, survivors of homicide victims, human trafficking, crimes
<br />against elders and dependent adults, sexual assault, domestic violence, robbery and other crimes; for victims
<br />of crime without independent financial means, the District Attorney’s office facilitated financial support
<br />through the victim Compensation Program; and,
<br />Whereas, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has been a leader in outreach and services to
<br />underserved populations including commercial sexual exploitation of children, sexual assault victims from cold
<br />hit/DNA cases, immigrant victims, urban youth, and victims in the LGBTQ community, as well as victims with
<br />disabilities such as deaf and hard of hearing. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has been bridging
<br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 5/3/2023
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