ADAMS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE HONORS VICTIMS

Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr would like to invite members of the community to attend the annual Victim Rights flag raising ceremony on April 27, 2009, at 9:30 a.m, at the Adam County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building, 332 North 19th Avenue, Brighton, Colorado. This year’s national theme is “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act”.

The week of April 26, 2009 has been dedicated as a time to focus on victims of crime and celebrate our nation’s progress in serving them. This year’s theme, “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act”, honors the national commitment to victims of crime. In 1982, President Ronald Regan found the criminal justice system was not responsive to crime victim’s needs. A task force was formed and in 1984 a report outlined the findings and the work of victim advocates. Congress then passed the Victims of Crime Act, which created the Crime Victims Fund. The Crime Victims’ fund is financed by fines and penalties paid by offenders and not by taxpayers. These funds supports victim compensation programs, which reimburse victims for many out-of-pocket expenses victims may face in the aftermath of crime. These expenses may be related to medical care, counseling, funerals, and lost wages. It also helps victim assistance programs such as sexual assault crisis and domestic violence programs.

Sheriff Darr stated, “There is not a day that goes by that we are not striving to help victims of crime, it is one of our top priorities. A person can become a victim of a crime in a single moment, but the impact of that event can last a lifetime. On April 27, we are coming together with the members of our community to show victims they are not alone, they are not forgotten, and they are survivors. ”

Members of the media and the public are welcome to attend the flag raising ceremony on April 27, 2009, at 9:30 a.m, at the Adam County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters building, 332 North 19th Avenue, Brighton, Colorado.