Schuette to Co-Host Vigil Remembering Michigan's Crime Victims
April 24, 2013
LANSING - Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced he will join Senator Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton), co-chair of the Crime Victims Caucus in the Michigan Senate, to co-host tonight's 25th Annual Michigan Crime Victims Vigil, sponsored by Michigan's Crime Victim Foundation. The vigil is held in conjunction with National Crime Victims' Rights Week and serves as a time of remembrance for victims' families and friends as well as an opportunity to honor those who have served victims beyond their ordinary duties.
The vigil will be held in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m. The event is open to the public and media.
"It is a privilege to stand with families to remember loved ones lost and honor Michigan's selfless servants of victims at this year's Michigan Crime Victims' Vigil," said Schuette. "Crime victims deserve a voice and advocate, and they have a friend in the attorney general's office. Ever since I had the privilege to serve with Bill Van Regenmorter in the Senate, crime victim advocacy has been close to my heart. We will never give up the fight to strengthen public safety and protect Michigan families from crime."
The keynote speaker for the vigil this year is Carol Ryan. In 2003, Carol's 14 year-old daughter disappeared from home with a 56 year-old felon. Through the outstanding efforts of multiple police agencies, Amber Alert notifications, and committed prayer partners, her daughter was safely recovered three weeks later, 2000 miles from home. Today Carol works with the National center for Missing and Exploited Children as the leader for Team Hope, a parent support program that has already supported 5,000 parents.
The vigil also features an award ceremony honoring several people for their outstanding service on behalf of crime victims, and a candlelight service to remember lost loved ones.
In 1985, Michigan was one of the first states to implement crime victim rights, adding these rights to our state constitution in 1988.
"Events like the recent tragedy in Boston bring to light the struggles that victims of crime face, sometimes for the rest of their lives. No less significant are the crimes that go unreported or unnoticed everyday right here in Michigan," said Senator Schuitmaker. "Those victims often think they must face their challenges without the help of friends or family or the community. We must show them there is support available."
Schuette remains committed to elevating and strengthening the Crime Victim Rights Act, working with law enforcement, the courts and victim organizations to build a stronger statewide support system for crime victims.
In May 2011, Schuette created the post of Director of Crime Victim Advocacy to serve as a voice for crime victims, a watchdog over enforcement of the state's William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim Rights Act and as a coordinator of further improvements in statewide support for victims of crime.
In addition to numerous reforms and new initiatives, Schuette continues to advocate on behalf of crime victims working with legislators to craft new laws, work with law enforcement agencies across Michigan to better assist victims and moves forward on fielding further enhancements in statewide support.
Since taking office in 2011, Schuette won expanded protection for child sex-abuse victims who testify in court and launched a fight for notices to crime victims when criminals are freed or escape. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2012 ruling striking down mandatory sentences of life without parole for teenage murders in Miller v Alabama, Schuette has advocated to keep convicted teenage murderers behind bars and prevent the re-victimization of murder victims' family and friends with new re-sentencing hearings.
Schuette's website serves as a user-friendly source of information and assistance for crime victims. For additional information on Michigan Crime Victims' Rights click here: http://1.usa.gov/10bqfzZ
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