National Crime Victims' Rights Week - 2022
Missions Inc. Programs serves crime victims
April 24-30 is National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). This year's theme is "Rights, access, equity, for all victims."
This theme allows us to explore the importance of helping crime survivors find justice by:
- enforcing victims' rights
- expanding access to services, and
- ensuring equity and inclusion for all.
Get help
Only you know what is best for you.
If you are facing abuse at home, you can call our confidential 24-hour crisis line: 763.559.4945, where advocates are available to listen to your concerns and offer information on domestic violence, options and resources.
If you have been the victim of a crime (other than domestic violence), you can contact Cornerstone 24/7 at 952.884.0330 to talk about your options.
If you’ve been assaulted or are in immediate danger, you may decide to call the police. Missions Inc. and Cornerstone's advocates can walk you through what may happen when the police are called.
Legal Protections for Crime Victims
The crime victims' movement grew in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of idealistic young adults seeking social consciousness in the United States. It led to the study of victimology, state victim compensation programs, the rise of the women's movement and the growth of victim activism according to a 2004 report from the United States Department of Justice.
In 1984, the Victims of Crimes Act was enacted. This federal law provides for crime victim compensation and assistance to the victims of federal and state crimes.
In 2004, the Crime Victims' Rights Act was passed, outlining a broad set of rights for victims of federal crimes and authorized federal funding for programs to assist victims in asserting, accessing and enforcing those rights.
In Minnesota, the Minnesota Crime Victim Bill of Rights provides guidance for victims of state crimes as they move through the legal system.
While NCVAW is advocacy within the justice system, if you've been the victim of a crime, you do not need to interact with the police to access Missions Inc. Programs or Cornerstone services. Find the crisis line numbers for both Missions Inc. and Cornerstone at the top of this page.
The Legal System
Unfortunately, the state and federal legal systems do not protect all victims of all harm. This is true of many victims of domestic abuse who face verbal, financial and emotional abuse but whose abusers never violate domestic abuse statutes.
A victim's pain and experience is valid regardless of whether a law has been broken. And it is valid regardless of whether they decide to seek help from the police.
There are many factors that prevent victims of crimes from contacting law enforcement, including systemic racism, sexism, and unequal power structures. A victim’s prior experience with law enforcement or the legal system, and/or their lack of access to credible information about how the system functions can cause the victim to lack trust in the system to keep them safe.
Missions Inc. Programs serves many victims of crimes, including domestic abuse survivors and those in recovery from substance use disorder who have faced victimization. Learn more about our services HERE.
How YOU can Help
Donate
A really important way you can help survivors of victimization is to donate to support organizations like Missions Inc. Programs.
Your support provides important services to those in need in our community.
Fundraise for Missions
Did you get our postcard?
The postcard states that: 80% of women & children and 45% of men experiencing homelessness have experienced abuse.
This statistic is from the National Alliance for Safe Housing's Safety Planning for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence: A Toolkit for Homeless/Housing Programs.
This document was published in 2018.