Title
Proclaiming and designating the week of April 2-8 as "Philadelphia Crime Victims' Rights Week" to encourage citizens to assist crime victims and to increase community awareness and support for the organizations that help crime victims rebuild their lives.
Body
WHEREAS, National Crime Victims' Rights Week was established in 1981 to promote awareness and support for victims of crime and is sponsored by the Federal Office for Victims of Crime which provides funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs; and
WHEREAS, This year's theme - "Strength. Resilience. Justice." - reflects the hope that despite traumatic experiences, victims are strengthened by the support they receive, organizations are resilient in the face of adversity, and communities are able to gain collective justice and healing; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, there were an estimated 5.4 million violent victimizations and 15.3 million property victimizations experienced by U.S. citizens age 12 or older. A large proportion of people can expect to become a victim of crime at some point in their lifetime, making crime not a remote or distant issue, but rather one that touches many of us, our families, and our communities; and
WHEREAS, After a period of significant decline, Philadelphia's crime rates are now growing again. As of March 26, 2017, there had been 71 homicides in Philadelphia since the start of the year, a 15 percent increase from 2016 when there were 62 homicides by March 26, and a 27 percent increase from 2015 when there were 56 homicides by March 26; and
WHEREAS, Young people are disproportionately victimized when compared to other age groups. Of the national population of 14 to 17-year-olds, over 69 percent has been assaulted, 56 percent had experienced property victimization (including robbery), 41 percent had been maltreated, and 27 percent had been sexually victimized at some point in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Women are often victims of domestic viole...
Click here for full text