HARRISBURG, APRIL 16, 2007 – The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione setting aside next week as “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week” in Pennsylvania.

     “As a nation devoted to liberty and justice for all, the United States must increase its efforts to protect, restore, and expand crime victims’ rights,” Tartaglione said.

     Each year, more than five million Americans are victimized by violent crime.  For more than thirty years, the victims’ rights movement has tried to keep pace with the statistics by fostering the creation of public and private groups to provide counseling, advocacy and financial aid for crime victims.

     Since the first victim compensation system was created in California in 1965, many successes have followed, including the creation of rape crisis centers, the implementation of “victim impact” statements at sentencing, the funding of shelters for battered women, and the organization of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

     “The observation of Crime Victims’ Rights Week recognizes that, despite these achievements we cannot rest,” Tartaglione said.