SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SR 24
Office of Senate Floor Analyses
(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478
THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 24
Author: Umberg (D)
Introduced: 4/5/21
Vote: Majority
SUBJECT: Crime Victims’ Rights Week
SOURCE: Crime Victims Action Alliance
DIGEST: This resolution recognizes the week of April 18, 2021, through
April 24, 2021, inclusive, as Crime Victims’ Rights Week in California.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1) Violent crime continues to exist in California, and crime in one part of the state,
or crime against one person, affects our entire sense of well-being. All
Californians are affected by crime, not just the victims of violent crime. The
most effective aid that can be provided to victims of crime is to prevent crime
from happening in the first place.
2) Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has raised awareness of the
special needs of crime victims. This year, the theme for this week is “Support
Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.” The 2021 theme for National
Crime Victims’ Rights Week emphasizes the importance of leveraging
community support to help victims of crime.
3) The respect for and protection of victims’ rights within the legal process is one
of the most critical components of an effective criminal justice system. Victims
and witnesses of crime require special attention to ensure that they are
thoroughly informed about, and effectively participate in, the criminal justice
system.
4) To the maximum extent allowed by law, victims of violent crime should receive
compensation for their losses.
5) Each day thousands of victims and witnesses receive assistance from victim
support organizations, victim-witness assistance centers, private service
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providers, and state and local governments. The criminal justice system in this
state must persist in its effort to better coordinate and improve the quality of
services provided to victims and witnesses.
6) California has been an innovator in the victims’ rights movement, establishing
the first crime victim compensation program in the nation in 1965, Women’s
Advocates and Haven House in Pasadena established the first shelters for
battered women in the nation in 1976, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving was
founded in 1980 with the establishment of a chapter in Sacramento.
7) California citizens enshrined victims’ rights in the California Constitution in
1982 through the passage of Proposition 8, the Victims’ Bill of Rights.
California citizens reaffirmed and afforded additional rights to victims in the
California Constitution and in California law in 2008 through the passage of
Proposition 9, the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008: Marsy’s Law.
8) Each year, the observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week focuses on
the problems confronting victims of crime and the services available to support
these victims. The remembrances observed during National Crime Victims’
Rights Week promote awareness of victims’ issues and acknowledge the
combined efforts of citizens, the government, and the criminal justice system to
improve victims’ services in California.
This resolution recognizes the week of April 18, 2021, through April 24, 2021,
inclusive, as Crime Victims’ Rights Week in California.
Related/Prior Legislation
The following are the most recent measures recognizing Crime Victims’ Rights
Week:
 ACR 167 (Ramos, 2020) died in the Assembly.
 SCR 118 (Newman, Resolution Chapter 55, Statutes of 2018).
 ACR 39 (Cooper, Resolution Chapter 38, Statutes of 2017).
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 4/12/21)
Crime Victims Action Alliance (source)
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OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/12/21)
None received
Prepared by: Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520
4/14/21 15:20:36
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