Reps. Van Regenmorter, Acciavatti, Adamini, Bieda, Brown, DeRossett, Gillard, Hager, Howell, Koetje, Law, Lipsey, Middaugh, Palsrok, Richardville, Robertson, Shaffer, Spade, Vander Veen, Accavitti, Anderson, Brandenburg, Byrum, Caswell, Caul, Clack, Condino, Ehardt, Emmons, Farhat, Gleason, Hopgood, Hunter, Jamnick, LaJoy, McConico, Meyer, Minore, Murphy, Pappageorge, Pastor, Plakas, Sak, Shulman, Stahl, Stewart, Tabor, Taub, Tobocman, Voorhees, Wojno, Gieleghem, Nitz, Zelenko and Kooiman offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 234.

A resolution recognizing April 18-24, 2004, as National Crime Victim’s Rights Week.

Whereas, The results of ongoing government and community efforts to decrease the crime rates, with the goal of assuring peace of mind to the citizenry of our state and nation, are at last becoming visible, as evidenced by the numerous reports demonstrating a continuing drop in the crime rate in cities across the nation.  While continuing to monitor and promote the enforcement and creation of laws to better protect society, there must also be an emphasized focus on strengthening the network of victim resources that can assist victims of crime to heal; and

Whereas, Since the implementation of The Crime Victim’s Rights Act in 1985 and the passage of the constitutional amendment in 1988, the net for crime victims has been widened and strengthened.  The groups that have evolved across the state and nation have clearly demonstrated the thoughtfulness of human nature to assist his and her fellow citizens.  The demonstration of this level of care makes one realize that victims of crime have indeed formed a community, one that cares for their fellow man and woman and is willing to go the extra mile to provide assistance.  The support groups that have arisen are many and varied, ranging from volunteers coordinated by county sheriff offices that work in teams of two to assist victims of crime at the very moment a crime has occurred, to the motivated and concerned individuals in each county prosecutor’s office that assist a victim of crime throughout the court process, to the many support groups that have arisen across the state; and

Whereas, The existence of these groups and the visibility of victims in the criminal justice process can be largely attributed to the Crime Victim Constitutional Amendment which was overwhelmingly approved by the voters of Michigan in 1988.   The amendment has had a great impact on the right’s of crime victims. They are now afforded a multitude of rights throughout the process, most important of which is that the victim be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the entire process.  The rights granted to victims have provided an awareness throughout our state, making the important statement that the system created to address the wrong done to a victim does in fact include the victim, a facet of the process that was sadly missing prior to the passage of the Crime Victim’s Rights Act and the constitutional amendment nearly two decades ago; and

Whereas, The exchange of information and level of public awareness are the focus of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week and continues to serve as a driving force for changes in attitude and law in not only Michigan, but the entire country; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize April 18-24, 2004, as National Crime Victim’s Rights Week; and be it further

Resolved, That we salute the support groups and participants in the candlelight vigil on Wednesday April 21, 2004, at the State Capitol; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the coordinators of this event as evidence of our respect and best wishes.