2023 -- S 0947
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LC002906
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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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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF APRIL 23 THROUGH 29, 2023, TO BE "CRIME VICTIMS'
RIGHTS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski
Date Introduced: April 27, 2023
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
WHEREAS, A just society acknowledges the impact of crime on individuals, families, 1
neighborhoods, and communities by ensuring that rights, resources, and services are readily 2
available to help rebuild the lives of innocent victims or those left behind; and 3
WHEREAS, Rhode Island will always be dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help 4
crime victims and their families after undergoing a traumatic experience; and 5
WHEREAS, Rhode Island supports victims of crime by treating them with respect and 6
dignity, listening to them, and matching their needs to appropriate services and support; and 7
WHEREAS, Providing crime victims with knowledge of the rights and resources 8
available to them strengthens their ability to recover by restoring a sense of self-empowerment; 9
and 10
WHEREAS, Victims of crime not only face physical and emotional costs, they often 11
suffer a serious economic toll as well; and 12
WHEREAS, Victims can carry a fiscal burden long after the day a crime occurred, 13
whether it be medical expenses, crime scene cleanup, the cost of physical re-location, or lost 14
earnings; and 15
WHEREAS, The Crime Victims Compensation Program – administered by the Office of 16
the General Treasurer – helps to defer the economic burden on innocent victims that is so often 17
associated with crime; and 18
WHEREAS, In 2022, the Crime Victims Compensation Program helped over 260 victims 19
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and families get back on their feet; and 1
WHEREAS, In 2022, the Crime Victims Compensation Program provided nearly 2
$900,000 in financial assistance to victims of crime; and 3
WHEREAS, Legislation introduced at the request of the General Treasurer works to 4
increase funding for the Crime Victims Compensation Program through a small fee on traffic 5
violations; and 6
WHEREAS, This Legislation would also expand resources to victims and access to 7
program funds for sexual assault survivors; and 8
WHEREAS, Obstacles still prevent many victims from receiving meaningful access to 9
quality, comprehensive services and support; and 10
WHEREAS, Many criminal acts – including rape and sexual and domestic assault – are 11
often unreported out of a fear of retribution or past negative encounters with the criminal justice 12
system; and 13
WHEREAS, The Office of the General Treasurer and the General Assembly is 14
committed to ensuring every innocent victim of crime has access to the resources and services 15
they need to recover from their ordeals and to regain a feeling of safety; and 16
WHEREAS, The week of April 23 through 29, 2023, is National Crime Victims' Rights 17
Week, where our nation dedicates itself to strengthening victims and survivors in the aftermath of 18
crime and expresses its gratitude and appreciation for community members, victims service 19
providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to helping all who have suffered 20
from criminal acts; now, therefore be it 21
RESOLVED, That this the Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims the 22
week of April 23 through 29, 2023, to be "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in the State of Rhode 23
Island. We moreover urge innocent victims of crime to apply for a grant from the Crime Victims 24
Compensation Program to help defer the cost of crime and convalesce; and be it further 25
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 26
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Day One RI, the Lawrence A. Aubin, Sr. Child 27
Protection Center, Bikers Against Child Abuse of Rhode Island, Sojourner House, and the Rhode 28
Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 29
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LC002906
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