FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2016

CONTACT:

Chuck Denowh: 239-5952

City of Great Falls recognizes Crime Victims’ Rights Week

(Great Falls, Mont.)—Great Falls Mayor Bob Kelly and the City Commission have proclaimed April 10 thru April 16 Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Great Falls.  The proclamation is in recognition of the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness for the issues facing the more than 20 million victims of crime in the United States each year.

“We’re proud of the work being done in Great Falls to help crime victims and improve the services we can provide to them,” said Mayor Kelly. “We’re fortunate to have excellent law enforcement in our city and I believe we’ve fostered an environment of empathy and humanity in the work they do.  But we owe it to victims of crime to always be looking for ways to improve the system.”

An average of 9 violent crimes occurs daily in Montana, in addition to dozens more property crimes, according to recent FBI crime statistics.  

The objective of Crime Victims’ Rights Week is to foster discussions about how the criminal justice system works for the thousands of victims each year to ensure that system is responsive to their needs. 

The Great Falls Crime Victims’ Rights Week proclamation also recognizes the work done by the victim services community to create a safe and supportive environment for victims.  Victim advocates assist crime victims by keeping them informed about proceedings in their case and helping them obtain state and local services that may be available to them.

“I want to thank Mayor Kelly and the rest of the City Commissioner for bringing attention to the issues that crime victims face,” said Chuck Denowh, the state director of Marsy’s Law for Montana, a ballot initiative campaign seeking to add a Crime Victims Bill of Rights to the Montana Constitution.  “Our law enforcement officials and prosectors in Montana do an excellent job, but there are times when victims can feel left out of the process.  Marsy’s Law will help fix that problem by giving equal rights to victims of crime.”

###