Bill Text: GA SR302 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Georgia Senate Resolution 302 (Prior Session Legislation)

Enrolled

Bill Title: Victim-Witness Advocate Day; recognize February 19

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-02-18 - Senate Read and Adopted [SR302 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR302-Enrolled.html

09 LC 94 0337

Senate Resolution 302

By: Senators Hamrick of the 30th and Murphy of the 27th

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing February 19, 2009, as Victim-Witness Advocate Day in Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, on February 19, 2009, the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia will sponsor Victim-Witness Advocate Day in Georgia at the capitol; and

WHEREAS, legislators are encouraged to join with victim-witness advocates, district attorneys, and solicitors-general from across this state to recognize the important role of victim-witness advocates and to increase awareness of their mission to provide support to victims of all crimes; and

WHEREAS, with the enactment of the Georgia Crime Victims' Bill of Rights in 1995, individuals impacted by violent crime are afforded specific services to enable them to take steps toward restoration, and, through the district attorney offices in each of the 49 Georgia judicial circuits and the solicitor-general offices in 25 of the 159 Georgia counties, victim-witness advocates are the only service agencies mandated to serve all crime victims; and

WHEREAS, advocates are present and available to guide these individuals through what can be a confusing, complicated judicial process, and victim-witness personnel assist with obtaining compensation through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and appropriate restitution through the courts; and

WHEREAS, victim-witness personnel make referrals to professional and other community resources and provide notification of all judicial proceedings; and

WHEREAS, each judicial circuit and county has unique needs, resources, and services, and the advocates work to insure the victim's full participation in the judicial process; and
WHEREAS, the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia's Victim-Witness Advocacy Office provides consultation, training, networking, and professional development to advocate personnel, and they also present the needs and concerns of crime victims to the community, elected officials, agencies, and public policy makers through education, resources, collaboration, and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, the Victim-Witness Advocacy Office is committed to unifying this state's advocate personnel in voice, purpose, and vision; providing training and orientation for new advocates and volunteers; providing training to advocates, prosecutors, investigators, community officials, and the public regarding crime victim issues; assisting with collaboration between advocacy agencies; assisting with requested training of law enforcement officers and agencies, including, but not limited to, training on domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, criminal process, civil justice, compassion fatigue, and sexual assault; providing up-to-date information through consultation, networking, personal development, and training to prosecution based advocates; and supporting prosecution based advocates as they serve all crime victims in Georgia as mandated by the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize the importance of victim-witness advocates, support their mission to support victims of all crimes, and declare February 19, 2009, as Victim-Witness Advocate Day at the capitol.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia.