By Shapiro                                            S.C.R. No. 43
       74R4804 SMC-D
                                 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.