April 2023

National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 23-29

Every April, the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) is held to promote victims’ rights and to honor crime victims and their advocates. The 2023 NCVRW runs from April 23 through 29, with recognition events scheduled to take place across the state.

This year’s theme for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.” When the voices of survivors are included and elevated, it makes certain that they are heard and seen, creating a path to forging and sustaining community trust. Engaging survivors creates responses and services that are credible, meaningful, and centered on individual needs. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is dedicated to amplifying the voices of survivors and creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.

This year’s ceremony marks the 51st anniversary of the creation of the first victim assistance organizations. Communities across the country will come together this week with the goal of raising awareness about victims’ rights and honoring victims of crime for their courage and contributions. We hope to instill the value of those who serve victims, including correctional officers and others who work in the criminal justice field, and to encourage us all to remember that assisting victims of crime is an integral part of our agency’s mission.