CCSO, Community Partners To Celebrate National Crime Victims' Rights Week

National Crime Victims' Rights Week begins Sunday, April 22, as a way to take time and honor crime victims and the nation's progress in advancing their rights. This year's theme, "Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim", celebrates the vision behind that progress and the ideal of serving all victims of crime.

Every state, including Florida, has enacted victims' rights laws, compensation funds and victim service agencies. However, more than 50 percent of crimes are not reported and fewer than 20 percent of victims receive needed services due to the financial restraints of assisting agencies.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week will begin in Washington, D.C., at the Department of Justice's annual Attorney General's National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime. Collier County will observe National Crime Victims' Rights week from Sunday, April 22 to Saturday, April 28.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office, Florida State Attorney's Office, the Naples Shelter for Abused Women and Children, Project Help and other organizations are all committed to ensuring the rights of victims. For more information, visit http://www.crimevictims.gov/.

If you or a loved one are the victim of a crime, contact CCSO's non-emergency line at 239.252.9300 to file a report, or 911 if it is an emergency.