Victims’ Grove Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24th NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHT WEEK (NCVRW)

PROVIDENCE, RI – April 24, 2024 – National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is April 21-27, 2024. Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) is commemorating this important awareness week by hosting our annual Victims’ Grove Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm.  

In 2022, there were nearly 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.6 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.6 million, only about 42% were reported to police.

This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” We must create an environment in which victims and survivors feel safe talking about what happened to them. The theme aims to ensure that everyone in a community knows where and how crime victims and survivors can find help — including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community. We must all be prepared to offer support.

“Ensuring accessible support and services for victims of crime is not just a moral imperative, but a cornerstone of a just society. By extending a compassionate hand to those in need, we not only aid in their recovery but also reaffirm our commitment to justice, dignity, and healing for all”. Said Candace Johndrow, Vice President of Family Service of Rhode Island’s Hope Division.

FSRI is proud to join the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and communities throughout the United States during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and their advocates.

The following individuals will be honored during the Victims’ Grove Ceremony:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Cheryl Patnaude
Retired Elder Justice Advocate

Renee Castelli
Law Enforcement Advocate, Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center

Rebecca White
Survivor /Advocate

Christie Robbins,
Caseworker, Parent Support Network

Sgt. Matt Moretti
Sergent, Warwick Police Department

Laura Dussault,
Survivor Volunteer, SOAR

To learn more about how to support all victims of crime, visit the Office for Victims of Crime’s website at ovc.ojp.gov.