2023 -- H 6319
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LC002871
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING "NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' WEEK" ON APRIL 23RD THROUGH
APRIL 29TH, 2023, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Spears,
Cotter, Craven, Caldwell, Casimiro, and Cortvriend
Date Introduced: April 25, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, Crime and victimization in Rhode Island and the United States has 1
significant, and sometimes life-shattering, impacts on victims, survivors, and communities; and 2
WHEREAS, Delivering true justice requires that all victims are provided with the support 3
they need; and 4
WHEREAS, Barriers that prevent many survivors from receiving the services they need 5
and the justice they deserve still exist with many violent crimes, including rape and sexual 6
assault, often going unreported to law enforcement because, among other concerns, victims fear 7
placing themselves in further danger and from negative interactions with the criminal justice 8
system; and 9
WHEREAS, The inequality of victimization and surge in hate crimes faced by 10
historically marginalized groups including communities of color, Native American communities, 11
the LGBTQI+ community, the Asian American community, and the Jewish community needs to 12
be more fully addressed; and 13
WHEREAS, Victims of crime not only face physical and emotional costs, they often 14
suffer a serious economic toll as well; and 15
WHEREAS, Helping those who have experienced crime and their families is an 16
important step toward the protection of and support for victims' rights. Dedicated professionals 17
have worked to develop support and services for survivors that are more holistic, trauma-18
informed, and effective at overcoming systemic barriers that certain communities face in 19
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prosecuting offenders and obtaining justice; and 1
WHEREAS, More work remains to be done to advance these goals and National Crime 2
Victims' Rights Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness for our commitment to 3
providing survivors of crime with the support they need to heal; now, therefore be it 4
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 5
commemorates April 23rd – April 29th as "National Crime Victims' Week". We moreover honor 6
crime victims, survivors, and the individuals who advocate for them and renew our commitment 7
to providing survivors of crime with the support and access to services that will help them cope 8
with the physical, psychological, financial, and other adverse effects of crime; and be it further 9
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 10
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Peg Langhammer, Executive Director of Day 11
One, and Meagan Fitzgerald, Program Manager of Advocacy & Prevention, Aubin Center. 12
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LC002871
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