Portland, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that in commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 8-14, 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the Westbrook Police Department (WPD) are hosting a presentation by L.Y. Marlow to raise awareness about crime victims’ issues and rights and the need for support and services for victims of crime. The presentation will take place on April 18th at 9:00 a.m. at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, in Westbrook, Maine.
Ms. Marlow is an author, a speaker and the founder of Saving Promise, a national domestic violence prevention organization. Ms. Marlow will share her personal story, which includes a family legacy of more than four generations of domestic violence, to address what she believes is a global health crisis - intimate partner violence.
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of NCVRW by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme --Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims -- highlights how the investment of communities in crime victims expands the opportunity for victims to disclose their victimization, connect with services, and receive the support they need. The theme also acknowledges the many barriers facing victims of crime especially those with disabilities, LGBTQ victims, older adults, those with limited English proficiency, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and others from historically marginalized communities.
OVC and the USAO encourage widespread participation in the week’s events and in other victim-related observances throughout the year. DOJ will host OVC’s annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 13, 2018, to honor outstanding individuals and programs that serve victims of crime. For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist victims in your community, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
