HOUSE 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, reports of crime victims experiencing harsh 1-11 and unresponsive treatment by the criminal justice system continue 1-12 to trouble a significant number of Texans; 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 Citizens for Concerns of Police 1-23 Survivors, the Office of the Mayor of Houston, Justice For All, 1-24 Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Parents of Murdered Children, People 2-1 Against Violent Crime, Save Our Children From Abuse and Neglect, 2-2 the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, the Texas Council on 2-3 Family Violence, the Texas District and County Attorneys 2-4 Association, the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, the Travis 2-5 County Sheriff's Department, the Office of the Attorney 2-6 General--Crime Victims' Compensation Division and Crime Victims' 2-7 Institute, the Office of the Governor--Criminal Justice Division, 2-8 the Texas Youth Commission, the Texas Juvenile Probation 2-9 Commission, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice--Victim 2-10 Services Office and Community Justice Assistance Division, and the 2-11 Texas Board of Criminal Justice; and 2-12 WHEREAS, All victims of crime in Texas and our nation deserve 2-13 to be treated with dignity, compassion, and justice, and it is 2-14 entirely fitting that the Texas Legislature lend its full support 2-15 to placing greater emphasis on the needs and rights of crime 2-16 victims in every jurisdiction of this state; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-18 hereby commend the many dedicated professionals and volunteers who 2-19 are working to secure rights and services for the victims of crime 2-20 and declare that February 19, 1997, be designated Crime Victims 2-21 Day. Allen _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 88 was adopted by the House on February 19, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 88 was adopted by the Senate on February 19, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor