GOCF Honors Crime Victims during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April

Atlanta, GA – “30 Years: Restoring the Balance of Justice” is the 2014 theme for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week across the state and country this April 6th through 12th. The state’s Multi-Agency Victim Services Partnership is inviting victims of crime to attend the annual ceremony and open house. 

The event is scheduled Monday, April 7th at State Offices South, at Tift College in Forsyth. The ceremonies begin at 10:00 A.M. in Roberts Chapel on the Department of Corrections campus, followed by an Open House at noon. The annual ceremony is held to honor crime victims and to increase public awareness about victims’ rights. Then from 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., the Open House is designed to allow victims and the public to learn more about important services offered by each participating state agency.

“The Governor’s Office for Children and Families is proud and honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Event,” says Katie Jo Ballard, Executive Director. “Our office provides funding, technical assistance and training to enhance services of the 46 state-certified domestic violence shelters, 22 sexual assault centers, 40 child advocacy centers, and services for victims of domestic minor sex trafficking. This funding is provided to communities so that all victims in Georgia have access to quality care and services.”

Thousands of Georgia families are affected by crime every year. Crime victims in attendance will have opportunities to meet with leaders from all the sponsoring state agencies at the Open House and to receive information on many victim services:

- Learn about the types of compensation programs available to victims of violent crime;
- Receive Victim Services Information;
- Make an appointment with Georgia Crime Victims Compensation staff to discuss the status of a claim or determine eligibility for additional benefits;
- Learn how to navigate the websites for the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles;
- Receive current information on offenders, including maximum release date, parole date and where the inmate is incarcerated;
- Register to receive further notification of an offender’s status; and
- Submit Victim Impact Statements.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, and would like more information on the available victim services throughout the state, visit http://children.georgia.gov/crisis-assistance.

About the Multi-State Agency Victim Services Partnership

The Multi-State Agency Victim Services Partnership is a group of state agencies committed to restoring Georgia crime victims' dignity, safety and well-being by providing leadership, guidance and information to victims and their families through communication, coordination and education. Currently the Multi-State Agency Victim Services Partnership consists of: Administrative Office of the Courts, Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Public Safety, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Governor’s Office for Children and Families, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.