Released: April 26, 2024
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, and Delaware County Sheriff Jerry Sanders participated in the County’s annual observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week on Thursday, April 25. This year’s national theme is How Would You Help?- Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first “National Crime Victims' Rights Week” in 1981 to highlight the importance of prioritizing the rights and needs of crime victims. Delaware County, along with federal, state, and local partners, uses the annual event to recognize the professionals and volunteers who provide critical victim services to the residents of the County.
In addition to the County’s elected officials, representatives from the organizations serving victims of crime in the County were on-hand to provide information. The organizations present for the event included: The Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Delaware County Victim Assistance Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Delaware County, Family Support Line, Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, Delaware County Juvenile Court and Probation Services, and Every Child Counts.
“This year’s theme — ‘How would you help?’ — is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to support those who have experienced the unimaginable,” said Chair Dr. Taylor. “Here in Delaware County, we take that responsibility seriously. The leadership exhibited by our District Attorney’s office and our Sheriff’s Office on behalf of the victims of crime has been unwavering. County Council has proudly supported initiatives and programs to address victims of crimes, focused on creating a supportive environment where victims can find not just justice, but a path to healing.”
The organizations recognized on Thursday include two County agencies – the Juvenile Court and Probation Services Department and the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), as well as organizations that are independent non-profit entities funded through a combination of public and private funding.
“Our mission at the District Attorney’s Office is to protect the residents of our great County, and that includes supporting victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process,” said District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring victims are afforded the rights and services they need. Quite literally, we could not do the work we do without the invaluable assistance of these amazing organizations.”