National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2021
40th Anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.
Beginning in 1981, the observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) during the month of April provides the United States the opportunity to honor survivors and to promote crime victims’ rights and services.
This year NCVRW will take place from April 18–24, 2021. Our theme this year—Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.—celebrates the contributions we all can make toward building trust and our community’s capacity to support the healing journeys of crime victims, such as those of hate crime victims.
Every year, the United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) throughout the nation host and participate in programs for NCVRW, often involving community outreach and training efforts, with the goal of leveraging community support to help victims of crime. USAOs are part of the Department of Justice and, led by a United States Attorney, enforce federal laws in their district, including hate crimes laws, and try cases in court.
Although COVID-19 has changed the landscape of possibilities for such programs, the Department of Justice’s commitment to supporting victims continues. This year the Department of Justice and the USAOs around the country are planning virtual programs and using social media, including Twitter (@USAttorneys) and Facebook, to commemorate NCVRW. You can find our tweets and posts under the hashtag, #NCVRW2021.
The following programs provide a sampling of events scheduled:
Virtual Hate Crimes Victim Awareness Workshop
U.S. Attorney’s Office - Eastern District of Michigan
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, along with other members of the Detroit Crime Victims Action Team, is co-hosting three virtual victim awareness workshops, including one on victims of hate crimes, with an emphasis on crimes against the LGBTQ and Arab American communities. The workshop events will be held the week of April 18. The last day will feature a presentation of the Outstanding Victim Service award to two local victim service organizations. For additional information, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Presentation: Crime Victims in Indian Country and the Rights They are Owed
U.S. Department of Justice and the National Organization for Victims of Crime
Leslie A. Hagen, DOJ’ s National Indian Country Training Coordinator, will present a virtual webinar on advocacy for victims of crime in tribal communities, focusing on the rights they are owed pursuant to federal and tribal law. The presentation will cover the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act, relevant tribal codes, and special protections provided to child victims and witnesses. The session will include specific examples of inclusion of tribal traditions in the court process, for example at sentencing. Finally, this webinar will provide examples of laws, programs, and initiatives for victims of crime in tribal communities to enable replicating similar efforts in communities looking to build a comprehensive victims’ rights program. This event will take place on April 19 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET, and is hosted by the National Organization for Victims of Crime and the Department of Justice.
Learn more and register here.
Stalking Trauma Syndrome Virtual Training Conference
U.S. Attorney’s Office - District of Nebraska
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, along with a co-sponsor of the Nebraska Coalition for Victims of Crime, will host an online training conference in recognition of NCVRW. This victim-centered conference will involve professionals who work with victims of crime across multiple disciplines, i.e. law enforcement, mental health professionals, victim advocates, prosecutors, educators, and corrections personnel.
For additional information, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
2021 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony
U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime
Learn more and register here.
Additional Events
For a more expansive list of programing, please see the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC): National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) Awareness Activities.