S.C.R. No. 43 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 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 sensitizing 1-9 police departments and the courts to the special needs of crime 1-10 victims and witnesses, some of these individuals still experience 1-11 harsh and unresponsive treatment from the criminal justice system; 1-12 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 numerous organizations, 1-22 including the Texas Crime Victims Advisory Council, Citizens for 1-23 Concerns of Police Survivors, office of the mayor of the City of 1-24 Houston, Justice For All, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Parents of 2-1 Murdered Children, People Against Violent Crime, Save Our Children 2-2 From Abuse and Neglect, the Texas Association Against Sexual 2-3 Assault, the Texas Council on Family Violence, the Texas District 2-4 and County Attorneys Association, the Texas Crime Victim 2-5 Clearinghouse, the Travis County Sheriff's Office, and the Texas 2-6 Board of Criminal Justice; and 2-7 WHEREAS, All victims of crime in Texas and our nation deserve 2-8 to be treated with dignity, compassion, and justice in times of 2-9 distress, and it is entirely fitting that the members of the 2-10 legislature lend their full support to placing greater emphasis on 2-11 the needs and rights of crime victims in every jurisdiction of this 2-12 state; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-14 hereby commend the many dedicated professionals and volunteers who 2-15 are working to secure rights and services for the victims of crime 2-16 and declare that February 8, 1995, be designated Crime Victims Day.