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by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Crimes have a big impact on victims and their families.
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Crimes have a big impact on victims and their families.
Often, victims become even more frustrated in the aftermath as they deal with legal and other matters because they are unaware of their rights.
But an event is being offered during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 2-8, to make victims more fully aware of their rights.A free Crime Victim Seminar is planned for 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, April 6, at Sioux Center Public Library. The event is being put on by Family Crisis Centers based in Sioux Center in partnership with Centers Against Abuse & Sexual Assault and the Sioux County Victim Witness Coordinator. The FCC crime victim advocate located at Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is organizing the event.
Spanish interpretation of the seminar will be available via audio devices.
“We really just hope this will help people better understand what rights they have and how they can get ahead with their family in spite of the crime they’ve experienced,” the crime victim advocate said.
After opening announcements, five sessions will be offered:
9:15 a.m. – “Sex Crimes” presented by CAASA representatives.
9:45 a.m. – “The Criminal Justice System: An Overview” presented by Alison Kamp, Sioux County Victim Witness Coordinator.
10:15 a.m. – “Crime Victim’s Rights in Iowa” presented by Kamp.
10:45 a.m. – “Homicide and Violent Crime Survivors” presented by representatives of FCC’s Western Iowa Survivors of Homicide program (WISH Unit).
11:15 a.m. – Domestic Abuse Crimes presented by FCC crime victim advocate.
The event will be informal in nature, so people can come and go as they please. Coffee and donuts will be provided to participants.
Informational materials, most of which also are in Spanish, will be provided to participants for them to take home.
Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is the only Federally Qualified Health Center serving the far northwest corner of Iowa. Promise provides medical, prenatal, dental, vision and behavioral health services. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org and watch this video.
BUILDING AWARENESS:
Promise Community Health Center staff are wearing bows with red and blue ribbons this week in support of crime victims in Iowa.
The red ribbon recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 2-8.
The blue ribbon recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
