This year’s theme of Victims Rights Week, “25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act,” recognizes the tremendous progress that has been made in helping them find resolution and rebuild their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

When Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act in 1984, services were scarce and victims often faced the trauma and pain of recovery alone. The Act opened up funding for supporting victims, and by 1987, we created the Attorney General’s Office of Victims’ Services. Three years later, Arizona became one of the first states to create a constitutional victims’ bill of rights. After 25 years, we have continued to build on this impressive groundwork.

During a rose garden ceremony this week, we honored several individuals whose commitments to victims’ rights have stood out.

Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor has re-engineered the courts’ case processing systems and made case-related information available to victims on the Internet. She has increased cooperation between law enforcement, prosecutors, defense counsels and victims to improve education about victims’ rights and ensure that those rights are enforced.

Mohave County Attorney Matthew Smith was honored for his work with victims of abuse cases involving the polygamous FLDS community in Colorado City. His efforts to create trust and understanding between Colorado City victims and prosecutors have helped reluctant victims come forward to seek justice. His approach has positively influenced prosecutors in Arizona, Utah and other states.

We also honored two other people for their dedicated service to Arizona’s victims. Dan Levey, the Governor’s Office Advisor for Victims, has played a crucial role in expanding Arizona’s public policy on behalf of victims. Lydia Johnson, the Arizona Department of Corrections Victim Notification Manager, has done exceptional work in her job working personally with victims and the ADC staff.

Two groups also were recognized for their innovative and integrated approaches to helping victims. The DOVES program is the first program in Arizona that specifically serves late-life domestic violence and elder abuse victims who, without DOVES, would have little opportunity to escape abusive situations. Also honored was Ama Doo Alchini Bighan (ADABI), Inc, known for its domestic violence and sexual assault crisis intervention program serving the Navajo Nation.

Arizona students are also taking an active role in victims’ rights. This year, we honored undergraduate and law school volunteer interns who have put in over 2,000 hours with the Attorney General’s Office in Tucson with the Office of Victims’ Services and the criminal prosecution section. Our Office of Victims’ Services was able to help 11,377 victims this past year, and that crucial aid would not have been possible without the participation of these interns and volunteers.

I am proud of our state’s accomplishments toward improved victims’ rights over the last 25 years and of the leaders who have made the commitment to expanding justice in Arizona. And I am equally proud of the everyday individuals who are reaching out to bring dignity and respect to their fellow Arizonans.

Terry Goddard