Every April, communities across the nation pause to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), a time to honor victims and survivors of crime, raise awareness about their rights, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to support them. This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed April 19–25, 2026, marking the 45th anniversary of this important national observance.
The 2026 theme, “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.” reminds us that supporting victims requires more than awareness, it requires action. It begins with listening to victims, responding to their needs, advocating for their rights, and working together to build safer communities.
Why Crime Victims’ Rights Week Matters
Crime impacts individuals and families in ways that are often long-lasting and deeply personal. For many victims, life may never return to what it once was. Yet with compassion, support, and access to services, healing is possible.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week exists to ensure victims are seen, heard, and supported, not just during one week in April, but every day of the year. It is also an opportunity to remind our communities that victims have rights within the criminal justice system and that their voices matter.
Since the first Victims’ Rights Week was proclaimed in 1981, communities nationwide have worked to strengthen victims’ rights, expand services, and build partnerships that place victims at the center of the justice process.
Our Commitment to Victims in Huron County
The Huron County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to treating victims with dignity, respect, and compassion throughout the criminal justice process. Our responsibility extends beyond prosecuting criminal cases. We work closely with victim advocates, law enforcement, the courts, and community partners to ensure victims are informed, supported, and connected with available resources.
Victims have the right to be informed, to be heard, and to be treated fairly. Our office works to ensure those rights are protected while recognizing that every victim’s experience is unique.
As Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Rutkowski explains:
Supporting victims begins with listening. When victims are heard and their experiences are taken seriously, we can take meaningful action, whether that means holding offenders accountable, connecting victims with services, or advocating for stronger protections. Our goal is to ensure victims know they are not alone and that our community stands ready to support them.
How Our Community Can Help
Supporting victims is not limited to the criminal justice system. Families, friends, neighbors, and community members all play a role in helping victims heal.
Sometimes support begins with simple actions: listening without judgment, offering assistance, respecting privacy, and showing patience and understanding. These small acts of compassion can make a meaningful difference for someone coping with the aftermath of crime.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is also an opportunity to learn about the many resources available to victims, including confidential hotlines and support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse, and other crimes.
Standing Together: This Week and Always
The theme “Listen. Act. Advocate.” reminds us that protecting victims and serving our communities requires commitment from all of us. When victims are heard and supported, communities become stronger and safer.
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19–25, we encourage residents of Huron County to reflect on how we can all play a role in supporting victims and standing up for their rights.
By listening to victims, taking action when help is needed, and advocating for justice, we can ensure that victims’ rights are recognized, respected, and protected—this week and throughout the year.
For more information about victims’ rights or available resources, please contact the Huron County Prosecutor’s Office.
