III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 131 

Supporting the mission and goals of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 

in 2017, which include increasing public awareness of the rights, needs, 

and concerns of, and services available to assist, victims and survivors 

of crime in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 7, 2017 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. CRAPO, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the mission and goals of National Crime Victims’ 

Rights Week in 2017, which include increasing public 

awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of, and 

services available to assist, victims and survivors of crime 

in the United States. 

Whereas, in 2015, according to a survey by the Bureau of 

Justice Statistics— 

(1) an estimated 5,000,000 residents of the United 

States who were not younger than 12 years of age were 

the victims of violent crime; and 

(2) households in the United States experienced an 

estimated 14,600,000 property victimizations; 


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•SRES 131 IS 

Whereas, in 2015, only 47 percent of violent crime and 38 

percent of property victimizations were reported to police; 

Whereas, as of 2008, the most conservative estimate for the 

economic losses sustained by victims of property crimes 

and victims of violent crime was approximately 

$17,000,000,000 per year; 

Whereas the economic cost alone does not fully describe the 

emotional, physical, and psychological impact endured by 

a victim of crime; 

Whereas crime can touch the life of any individual, regardless 

of the age, race, national origin, religion, or gender of the 

individual; 

Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 

individuals, families, schools, and communities by— 

(1) protecting the rights of crime victims and survivors; and 

(2) ensuring that resources and services are available to help rebuild the lives of the victims and survivors; 

Whereas, despite impressive accomplishments between 1974 

and 2017 in increasing the rights of, and services available to, crime victims and survivors and the families of 

the victims and survivors, many challenges remain to ensure that all crime victims and survivors and the families 

of the victims and survivors are— 

(1) treated with dignity, fairness, and respect; 

(2) offered support and services, regardless of 

whether the victims and survivors report crimes committed against them; and 

(3) recognized as key participants within the criminal, juvenile, Federal, and tribal justice systems in the 


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•SRES 131 IS 

United States when the victims and survivors report 

crimes; 

Whereas crime victims and survivors in the United States 

and the families of the victims and survivors need and 

deserve support and assistance to help cope with the 

often devastating consequences of crime; 

Whereas, each year from 1984 through 2016, communities 

across the United States joined Congress and the Department of Justice in commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to celebrate a shared vision of a comprehensive and collaborative response that identifies and 

addresses the many needs of crime victims and survivors 

and the families of the victims and survivors; 

Whereas Congress and the President agree on the need for 

a renewed commitment to serve all victims and survivors 

of crime in the 21st century; 

Whereas, in 2017, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will 

be celebrated from April 2 through April 8 and the 

theme, ‘‘Strength. Resilience. Justice.’’, will reflect the 

empowerment and strength of individual victims, the ability of victim assistance organizations to achieve solutions 

for providing effective services, and a community-based 

effort to deliver justice and healing to all victims; 

Whereas engaging communities in victim assistance is essential in promoting public safety; 

Whereas the United States must empower crime victims and 

survivors by— 

(1) protecting the legal rights of the victims and 

survivors; and 

(2) providing the victims and survivors with services 

to help them in the aftermath of crime; and 


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•SRES 131 IS 

Whereas the people of the United States recognize and appreciate the continued importance of— 

(1) promoting the rights of, and services for, crime 

victims and survivors; and 

(2) honoring crime victims and survivors and individuals who provide services for the victims and survivors: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the mission and goals of National 

3 Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which include increas4 ing individual and public awareness of— 

5 (A) the impact of crime on victims and 

6 survivors and the families of the victims and 

7 survivors; and 

8 (B) the challenges to achieving justice for 

9 victims and survivors of crime and the families 

10 of the victims and survivors and the many solu11 tions available to meet those challenges; and 

12 (2) recognizes that crime victims and survivors 

13 and the families of the victims and survivors should 

14 be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. 

Æ 


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