Helpful Act: Advocates join together for anniversary of Victims of Crime Act passing

Victims' advocates from several Lubbock organizations met on the lawn of the county courthouse Wednesday to exchange information and promote victims' rights.

The Lubbock Victims Coalition celebrated the 25th anniversary of the national Victims of Crime Act by setting up an information fair at the gazebo downtown as part of Crime Victims' Rights Awareness Week.

"Any time we can work together with other agencies it benefits our clients," said Linsey McCutchin of the Lubbock Rape Crisis Center.

Representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Women's Protective Services and Lubbock Victim Assistance Services, among others, commemorated the passing of the Victims of Crime Act under President Ronald Reagan in 1984.

The act created the Crime Victims Fund, a cache that has grown to more than $2 billion dollars financed by fines and penalties paid by offenders.

"We definitely need that funding to help us," said Felicia Lafuente of Women's Protective Services.

The money goes toward helping victims with medical and legal costs, and also helps victims pay for counseling services, which Lafuente says are essential in helping victims of domestic violence become survivors.

The most important thing for people to take away from the week dedicated to awareness of victims' rights is that help is available to victims throughout the legal process - during the trial and beyond, as victims deal with probation and parole issues, said Pam Alexander, director of Lubbock Victim Services.

"There's lots of different services they can tap into," Alexander said. "There is help and they're not alone."

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COURTS/Advocates join together for anniversary of Victims of Crime Act passing

First appeared on lubbockonline.com: 4:32 p.m. Wednesday.

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