Bill Text: CA SCR44 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-04 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 58, Statutes of 2015. [SCR44 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SCR44-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 44	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  58
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 4, 2015
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  APRIL 23, 2015
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 2, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Nielsen

                        APRIL 20, 2015

   Relative to Crime Victims' Rights Week.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 44, Nielsen. Crime Victims' Rights Week.
   This measure would declare the week of April 19, 2015, to April
25, 2015, inclusive, as Crime Victims' Rights Week.



   WHEREAS, Violent crime continues to exist in California, and crime
in one part of the state, or crime against one person, affects our
entire sense of well-being; and
   WHEREAS, All Californians are affected by crime, not just the
victims of violent crime; and
   WHEREAS, The most effective aid that can be provided to victims of
crime is to prevent crime from happening in the first place; and
   WHEREAS, Since 1981, National Crime Victims' Rights Week has
raised awareness of the special needs of crime victims; and
   WHEREAS, This year, the theme for this week is "Engaging
Communities. Empowering Victims"; and
   WHEREAS, 2015 is a landmark year for crime victims and survivors,
as well as those who serve them; and
   WHEREAS, The respect and protection of victims' rights within the
legal process is one of the most critical components of an effective
criminal justice system; and
   WHEREAS, Victims and witnesses of crime require special attention
to ensure that they are thoroughly informed about, and effectively
participate in, the criminal justice system; and
   WHEREAS, To the maximum extent allowed by law, victims of violent
crime should receive compensation for their losses; and
   WHEREAS, Each day thousands of victims and witnesses receive
assistance from victim support organizations, victim-witness
assistance centers, private service providers, and state and local
governments; and
   WHEREAS, The criminal justice system in this state must persist in
its effort to better coordinate and improve the quality of services
provided to victims and witnesses; and
   WHEREAS, California citizens enshrined victims' rights in the
California Constitution in 1982 through the passage of Proposition 8,
the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights; and
   WHEREAS, California citizens reaffirmed and afforded additional
rights to victims in the California Constitution and in California
law in 2008 through the passage of Proposition 9, the Victims' Bill
of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy's Law; and
   WHEREAS, Each year, the observance of National Crime Victims'
Rights Week focuses on the problems confronting victims of crime and
the services available to support these victims; and
   WHEREAS, The remembrances observed during National Crime Victims'
Rights Week promote awareness of victims' issues and acknowledge the
combined efforts of citizens, the government, and the criminal
justice system to improve victims' services in California; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the week
of April 19, 2015, through April 25, 2015, inclusive, as Crime
Victims' Rights Week in California; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.