The U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina attended a ceremony in Raleigh on April 17 to observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which will be held from April 19 to 25.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week was established in 1981 to honor crime victims, recognize advocates and service providers, and promote policies supporting victims' rights. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate.” The event aims to highlight the importance of listening to victims’ stories and advocating for justice.
The ceremony was sponsored by the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network and the Interagency Council of North Carolina. During the event, outstanding individuals who have provided superior service to victims were recognized. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina said, “As we hold criminals accountable in our job to do justice, we remain acutely aware of the victims left in the wake of this violence. We recognize and support victims, and hope our actions give them some measure of peace.”
Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina said, “Our victims and their families are at the center of everything we do. A lot of our work is not what you see in the headlines, but behind-the-scenes work to support our victims. After all, no one plans to be the victim of a crime; no one is prepared for it. Connecting victims to vital services is key, and this year I am proud to formally thank our service provider partners who help us in that effort.” Dan Bishop, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District added: “Each year we observe NCVRW to honor the resilience of survivors and raise awareness of victims’ rights and the importance of community support in the healing process... We are privileged to participate in today’s event and humbly reminded of our responsibility...”
Elizabeth Watson from North Carolina Victim Assistance Network said: “During Crime Victims’ Rights Week we stand with people whose lives have been harmed by violence... Together we uphold victims’ rights and make sure their voices are heard.”
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District promotes community safety through initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods according to its official website. The office prosecutes federal crimes across 44 easternmost counties including areas with major military installations like Fort Bragg according to its official website. It operates six federal courthouses located in cities such as Raleigh according to its official website, employs 119 staff members according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its official website, litigates civil matters protecting communities according to its official website, covers regions with significant military presence according to its official website, handles both criminal cases as well as civil litigation efforts within those counties as reported by its official site.
Organizers say they hope events like these increase awareness about available resources while honoring those impacted by crime.
