Apr 16, 2015 2 min read

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office of Victim Services is hosting a variety of community events to celebrate National Crime Victims Rights Week, which begins Sunday and runs through April 25.

This year’s theme, “Engaging Communities, Empowering Victims,” will focus on connecting county communities and neighborhoods to educate individuals about the assistance and support that Victim Services provides.

Betsy Dane, administrator of Victim Services, said this year’s activities are centered in Washington and will work in conjunction with Mystros Movement and CommUNITY, organizations that are dedicated to decreasing crime in the area.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from noon until 1:30 p.m., representatives from Victim Services will be present in the community rooms at Jollick Manor, Lincoln Terrace and Maple Terrace to answer questions and distribute goodies.

On Thursday, a communitywide event will be held at the Washington High School at 6 p.m., and will include various guest speakers, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney. The event will also feature presentations, a question-and-answer session and video interviews with victims from the Washington community.

“These videos are powerful,” Dane said in a news release. “They are true stories from real victims who describe their ordeal and outline how our office helped them cope. The videos will give an inside look at the right things – and the wrong things – that friends and loved ones can say to a victim of crime.”

Funding for this year’s events will be provided through a grant by the Office for Victims of Crime.

For additional information about the 2015 National Crime Victims Rights Week activities or about victims’ rights and services in Washington County, call Dane at 724-229-5922.