By Allen                                               H.R. No. 101
       74R4801 SMC-D
                                  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.