Dear Friend:

Welcome to the 2001 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Guide, published by the Victims’ Assistance Legal Organization, Inc. (VALOR) and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the official commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), a time-honored tradition observed by crime victims and those who serve them in the United States. The 2001 Guide is designed to help victim service providers plan and implement public awareness activities to commemorate this special week.

The theme for 2001 NCVRW is “Victims’ Rights: Reach for the Stars.” This year’s graphic artwork is designed to illustrate the efforts that we in the field of victim assistance have undertaken during the last 30-plus years in our ongoing and determined fight for better rights and services for victims of crime. We have reached for what was once a seemingly unreachable star— recognition within the criminal and juvenile justice systems and other service systems that it is the victim who has been harmed by the crime and who is entitled to basic legal rights, protection and services. And over and over, all across this great country, we have been successful in reaching for that star. This theme is reflected in all the Resource Guide components which can be utilized throughout the year in public education and community outreach efforts.

The contents of the 2001 Guide include the following: public education and community awareness materials; information about electronic resources available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service; a comprehensive website listing; resources for the news media to help promote NCVRW; statistical overviews that address 17 topics relevant to crime and victimization; a listing of toll-free information and referral numbers for victim assistance; and camera-ready artwork for posters, bookmarks, buttons, bumper stickers, cover/title page for NCVRW material, and NCVRW letterhead.

Victim advocates and allied professionals should take a few moments to review the following information regarding the organization of the 2001 NCVRW Resource Guide. All contents are organized within the following 8 main topics as they appear within your 2001 Resource Guide folder (from top left to bottom right):

1. STATISTICAL OVERVIEWS AND RESOURCES

• Statistical Overviews
  Child Abuse and Victimization
  Cost of Crime
  Crime and Education
  Crime and Victimization
  Domestic Violence
  Drunk Driving
  Elder Abuse and Neglect
  Financial Crime
  Hate and Bias Crime
  Homicide
  Juvenile Crime and Victimization
  Rape and Sexual Assault
  Sentencing and Corrections
  Stalking
  Substance Abuse and Crime
  Victims With Disabilities
  Workplace Violence and Crime
• Accessing Information: OVC Resource Center and Other Services
• NCVRW Resource Guide Co-Sponsors
• Resource Guide Evaluation

2. SAMPLE PROCLAMATION

3. WORKING WITH THE MEDIA

• Sample Press Release
• Sample Public Service Announcements
• Sample Opinion/Editorial Column

4. TWENTY TIPS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH

5. CAMERA-READY ARTWORK

• Certificate of Appreciation
• Cover/Title Page
• Crime Victim Resources Brochure
• Bookmarks
• Bumper Stickers
• Buttons
• Logos
• NCVRW
• Letterhead
• National Toll-free Information and Referral Telephone Numbers
• Poster

6. LANDMARKS IN VICTIMS’ RIGHTS AND SERVICES

• Crime Victims’ Rights in America: An Historical Overview
• Victims’ Rights Constitutional Amendments

7. MAXIMIZING COMMUNICATION AND AWARENESS

• Sample Speech
• Notable Quotables
• Sample Sermon

8. OVERVIEW OF RESOURCE GUIDE

You will find more detailed information and tips about the specific content and suggested uses for each of the individual contents of the Guide on the cover page of each section. These tips provide useful ideas for utilizing these valuable resources to ensure the best implementation of 2001 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.