GCAO sends a message of hope and support for victims of crime

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: This year during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 19 - 25), the victim advocates in the Graham County Attorney's Office are gathering messages of support, hope, and belonging for victims and survivors of crime. These heartfelt messages will be displayed on windsocks and flown outside the Graham County Courthouse.

When trouble comes, where do you go for support?

Contributed Article/Courtesy GCAO

The Victims’ Bill of Rights is a central part of the Arizona Constitution and provides essential rights to those affected by crime. Among those essential rights is the right “to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity, and to be free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse, throughout the criminal justice process.”

At the Graham County Attorney’s Victim Witness office, we strive to maintain those rights—and more. We know that every victim of crime is a unique individual with their own story, pain, and need for support throughout the criminal justice process.

This year, during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 19 – 25), our victim advocates are gathering messages of support, hope, and belonging for victims and survivors of crime. These heartfelt messages will be displayed on windsocks and flown outside the Graham County Courthouse. Please help us show our support for survivors of crime, in our community and beyond.

To join our efforts and show your support for victims of crime, please stop by the Graham County Victim Witness Office any day Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are located downstairs in the Graham County Courthouse. Our victim advocates can answer questions about victim rights and resources, and will provide you with a small banner on which to write your message of support and strength for victims of crime. These messages will be collected by our advocates and flown from windsocks outside the Graham County Courthouse until the end of April, letting them fly free as a powerful expression of support for those who have been affected by crime in our community.

And if you are unable to visit our office, never fear—we will also have a booth at the Safford Spring Festival on Saturday, April 25th, where you can stop by and write your message of support to be added to our display.

We hope that trouble never comes, but if it does, we’ll be here for you every step of the way.