Trump declares April 2-8 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Monitoring Desk
Tuesday - April 4, 2017
WASHINGTON (United States of America): In a proclamation by United States (US) President Donald J. Trump on Monday it was noted that the US government stands firm with crime victims and their families, renewing the commitment to safeguarding communities from crime, and that the US government recognises those who devote their lives to supporting and empowering victims and survivors.
Trump’s proclamation continues that crime and violence rob people of their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must focus on the plight of crime victims and search for effective solutions.
For too long, communities across this Nation have suffered from murder rates that are far too high. Gang-related shootings plague our major cities, while violence continues to afflict towns both small and large.
The physical, mental, and emotional scars borne by crime victims are often coupled with serious financial implications. In 1984, US President Reagan signed the Victims of Crime Act, which established the Crime Victims Fund.
This fund provides compensation for victims of crime for crime-related expenses such as medical payments, counselling, lost wages, and funeral and burial costs; supports victims' service programs such as domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centres; and builds capacity to improve responsiveness to the needs of crime victims.
The Crime Victims Fund receives ‘billions’ of dollars each year from, among other sources, certain criminal fines and penalties paid by convicted Federal offenders, which helps prevent American taxpayers from shouldering the burdens of reparations.
While this fund cannot completely undo the damage caused by crime, it can at least ease the monetary burden felt by victims and their families in the midst of grief.
As a society, we must continue to support those who have endured the fallout from crime. My Administration is developing an office to assist victims of crimes committed by criminal aliens.
The Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE), within the Department of Homeland Security, will work to serve the victims of open borders policies; which will no longer form the basis of our immigration system.
These victims will not be ignored by the media or silenced by special interests any longer. We will restore law and order and protect our citizens from this undue harm.
During National Crime Victims' Week, we renew our commitment to protecting all victims of crime, vindicating their rights, alleviating their burdens, and preventing future crime.
We will assist our law enforcement community in bringing justice to victims and to their communities. My Administration is resolved to uphold this fundamental purpose of the United States Government; preserving security for all Americans.
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