H.R. No. 101 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Violent crime affects the lives of millions of 1-2 Texans each year, often causing grave physical, financial, and 1-3 emotional harm to victims and their families; and 1-4 WHEREAS, While a great deal of effort has been expended to 1-5 ensure that crime suspects are treated fairly, the criminal justice 1-6 system historically has placed too little emphasis on the needs and 1-7 rights of victims and witnesses to violent crime; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Although great strides have been made in 1-9 sensitizing police departments and the courts to the special needs 1-10 of crime victims and witnesses, some of these individuals still 1-11 experience harsh and unresponsive treatment by the criminal justice 1-12 system; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Many dedicated professionals and volunteers in our 1-14 state currently are working to secure rights and services for all 1-15 crime victims and witnesses and to ensure that the legal systems of 1-16 the State of Texas and the United States are responsive to the 1-17 needs of the innocent as well as the guilty; and 1-18 WHEREAS, It is crucial that all citizens be fully aware of 1-19 their legal rights and the full range of services available to 1-20 crime victims; this educational effort and the critical services 1-21 available to crime victims are supported by a number of 1-22 organizations, including the Texas Crime Victims Advisory Council, 1-23 Citizens for Concerns of Police Survivors, the office of the mayor 1-24 of the City of Houston, Justice For All, Mothers Against Drunk 2-1 Driving, Parents of Murdered Children, People Against Violent 2-2 Crime, Save Our Children From Abuse and Neglect, the Texas 2-3 Association Against Sexual Assault, the Texas Council on Family 2-4 Violence, the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, the 2-5 Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, the Travis County Sheriff's 2-6 Office, and the Texas Board of Criminal Justice; and 2-7 WHEREAS, All victims of crime in Texas and our nation 2-8 deserve to be treated with dignity, compassion, and justice in 2-9 times of distress, and it is entirely fitting that the Texas House 2-10 of Representatives lend its full support to placing greater 2-11 emphasis on the needs and rights of crime victims in every 2-12 jurisdiction of this state; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th 2-14 Texas Legislature hereby commend the many dedicated professionals 2-15 and volunteers who are working to secure rights and services for 2-16 the victims of crime and declare that February 8, 1995, be 2-17 designated Crime Victims Day.