The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and the Department of Justice’s Office of Victims of Crime are participating in National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 6-12, 2025. This initiative aims to celebrate victims' rights, protections, and services under this year’s theme, "Kinship - Connecting & Healing." This theme emphasizes the importance of shared humanity in supporting survivors and victims of crime, highlighting that kinship is essential for victim advocacy.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the nation honor victims of crime and their advocates. A report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicated that in 2023, approximately 20 million crime victimizations occurred in the United States. Violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault accounted for more than 6.4 million incidents. Of these, only about 45% were reported to police.
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime spearheads the national observance of this week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to increase awareness of the needs and rights of crime victims.
In the Western District of Tennessee, a dedicated Victim Witness Coordinator offers support to federal crime victims. The services provided include referrals to counseling, securing temporary housing, assistance with access to victim compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings. These services aim to help victims reshape their futures.
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs strives to provide innovative leadership to justice systems at various levels by disseminating knowledge and practices and providing grants for crime-fighting strategies. Despite the primary responsibility for crime control falling to local law enforcement, federal partnerships play a crucial role in supporting local efforts.
Further resources for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week are available at https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2025/overview.
For more information, contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov or follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on social media for updates.