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WHEREAS, 18.7 million Americans are directly harmed by crime each year, and each crime affects many more family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of crime falling on people of all ages, abilities, and economic, racial, and social backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, crime victims face a criminal justice system that at times neglects their rights and treats them with disrespect; and
WHEREAS, in Western Pennsylvania, Mothers Against Drunk Driving joins forces with victim service programs, criminal justice officials, and concerned citizens to raise awareness of victims' rights in regards to drunk and drugged driving-a crime that gives us a statistic of 1 in 3 traffic fatalities involving a driver with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or greater; and
WHEREAS, Mothers Against Drunk Driving serves a victim or survivor of drunk or drugged driving every nine minutes, with our regional branch providing free and confidential services to DUI crash victims in Allegheny County including peer networking and legal advocacy, and facilitating the Victim Impact Panel in five regional counties, in which DUI offenders are court-ordered to attend a two-hour session of victim testimony; and
WHEREAS, since 1981 the United States Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime has helped lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims' Rights Week by promoting victims' rights and honoring both victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf.
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THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh commends Mothers Against Drunk Driving in conjunction with National Crime Victims' Rights Week for being an advocate for the vulnerable and victimized and for working to enhance our nation's commitment to service, ensuring that crime victims have the access to help they deserve and the rights they are promised.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council ...
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