As part of an integrated campaign to
increase awareness about victims' rights, educate the public
about the impact of crime, and promote crime victim resources,
OVC has launching this web site—crimevictims.gov—during
the first week of April. The site is tied directly to the release
of seven PSAs that will air nationally during National Crime
Victims' Rights Week ( April 10–16, 2005).
Designed for three audiences—crime victims, volunteers,
and victim service providers—each PSA ends with the tagline "Get
Help or Help Out" and directs the viewing audience to visit crimevictims.gov for
more information. Crimevictims.gov targets these same three
audiences, providing a wealth of resources for each including
links to web sites, publications, databases, and hotlines. The
site intentionally mirrors the look and feel of the PSAs, by "giving
a face" to crime victims, volunteers, and providers through
photos and brief testimonials.
The Office for Victims of Crime was created by the U.S. Department
of Justice in 1983 and formally established by Congress in 1988
through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984
[42.U.S.C. §10601]. OVC's mission is to enhance the Nation's
capacity to assist victims of crime and to provide leadership
in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice
and healing for all victims of crime. VOCA also established the
Crime Victims Fund, the sole source of funding for VOCA-authorized
programs, comprising fines, penalties, and special assessments
imposed on convicted federal defendants and gifts, bequests,
and donations. OVC is one of five bureaus within the Office
of Justice Programs (OJP).
To learn more about OVC and its programs and resources, visit OVC's
Web site or call the OVC Resource Center at 1-800-851-3420
(TTY 1-877-712-9279).
|
