Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (478) 992-5248
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Forsyth - In 1981, President Ronald W. Reagan, having the vision to address the plight of crime victims on a national level, declared the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Since 1981, crime victims have been recognized and honored every April. This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed April 22-28, 2012. The theme for 2012 is Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim.
The 2012 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week begins with a statewide ceremony on Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Department of Corrections’ headquarters at State Offices South at Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia. The ceremony will honor crime victims, increase public awareness about victims’ rights and will include a roundtable discussion on victim services by agency representatives. Agency representatives include the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council, Administrative Office of the Courts, Commission on Family Violence, Department of Community Health, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Public Safety, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Governor’s Office of Children and Families, Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Department of Corrections.
During the course of the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, these agencies will collaboratively pay their respect to crime victims throughout the state of Georgia.
“The Department of Corrections is pleased to participate in a vision that provides a time of nationwide remembrance, reflection and recommitment for crime victims and survivors,” said Commissioner Brian Owens. “Victims’ voices deserve a platform to be heard throughout the criminal justice system,” added Owens.
The Department of Corrections is the fourth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 12,000 employees.
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