Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2006

Collin County joins national commemoration of the 2006 National Crime Victims’ Week
Victims’ Rights: Strength in Unity
April 23-29, 2006

(McKinney, TX) – During the week of April 23-29, 2006, crime victims and survivors and those who serve them will join together across America to promote victims’ rights and services. The time will be used to educate our communities about the devastating impact of crime on victims, neighborhoods, schools and our nation. The theme of the 2006 Crime Victims’ Rights Week – “Victims’ Rights: Strength in Unity” – pays tribute to crime victims and survivors who, for many decades, have joined together in mutual support and advocacy to promote victims’ rights and services. It also recognizes the ongoing efforts of countless victim service providers, justice professionals and allied professionals and volunteers who selflessly dedicate their lives to helping victims of crime.

For decades, crime victims and those who serve them have joined forces to ensure that all victims are aware of their rights, and have access to the many community and justice system-based services that can help them in the aftermath of crime. There are many programs in our community that provide victims with crisis intervention, counseling, support, safety planning, and advocacy; and Texas’ victim compensation program helps victims recover from the many costs associated with criminal victimization.

The National Office for Victims of Crime will be kicking off the 2006 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Washington, D.C. with its 4th Annual National Candlelight Observance on Thursday, April 20th and its Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 21st.

In Collin County, there will be several special events to commemorate the week:

• Throughout the week, there will be a display of 965 shoes on the east lawn of the McDonald Street courthouse, representing the 965 victims of crime that were served by the Victim Assistance Unit of the Collin County District Attorney’s Office in 2005.
• On Tuesday, April 25th, at 2:00 pm at the McKinney Police Department, 130 S. Chestnut, Chief Doug Kowalski will kick off the “tie a ribbon” ceremony. All Collin County police agencies will be provided with purple and gold ribbons; officers are encouraged to tie a ribbon on their car to signify support for crime victims.
• On Wednesday, April 26th, at 2:00pm at the Children’s Advocacy Center, 2205 Los Rios Blvd., Plano, Texas, Jane Donovan will speak on protecting your children, followed by a release of purple and gold balloons representing crime victims. This event also honors April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
• On Thursday, April 27th, 10:30am at the Senior Center, 319 E. McKinney in Princeton, there will be a free safety awareness class for elderly citizens presented by Shea Pickrell of the Wylie Police Department. Any Collin County senior citizen is welcome to attend.
• On Friday, April 28th at 2:30pm at the Farmersville High School Auditorium, Highway 78 North, the Turning Point will present a skit and speech to students which will cover Internet safety, healthy dating relationships and sexual assault.

Members of our community are encouraged to promote “Victims’ Rights: Strength in Unity” by joining crime victims and survivors, victim advocates, justice professionals and many others at these events.

For additional information about the 2006 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, please contact Susan Webb, 972-548-4357 (swebb@collincountytx.gov) or Gloria Alderson, 972-548-4721 (galderson@collincountytx.gov), or visit our website, www.collincountytx.gov. For information on national resources, please visit www.crimevictims.gov.

###