From left to right, top row, are Alleghany County Commonwealth Attorney Ann Gardner, Lesia Wheeler (Victims Rights Program Director), Ashley Morris (Victim Rights Program Assistant Director), Alexis Ballard (Victims Rights Program Specialist) and Becky Scott (Victim Rights Program Advocate). Bottom row, left to right, are Clifton Forge Mayor Jeff Irvine, Covington Mayor Tom Sibold, Iron Gate Mayor Gary Craig, and Suzanne Adcock-Nicely representing Alleghany County.

Area Leaders Proclaim National Crime Victims' Rights Week   Covington, VA (March 23, 2023) - Area officials, including governmental leaders, including Alleghany County Commonwealth's Attorney and the entire Victims Rights Advocacy team, gathered at the Covington City Hall to bring awareness to National Crime Victims Rights Week. Here is that formal proclamation: Whereas the term “victim” is more than just a label and has legal standing and protections that go along with it; Whereas crime victims’ rights acts passed here in Virginia and at the federal level guarantee victims the right to meaningfully participate and use their voice in the criminal justice process; Wherea victim service providers, advocates, law enforcement officers, attorneys, and other allied professionals can help survivors find their justice by enforcing these rights; Wherea the right to provide an impact statement ensures that victims’ voices are considered in court during the sentencing and, when applicable, restitution processes; Whereas including and elevating the voices of survivors makes certain they are heard and seen and creates a path to forging and sustaining community trust; Whereas engaging survivors creates responses and services that are credible, meaningful, and centered on individual needs; Whereas survivors’ lived experience can serve as a catalyst for implementing innovative programs, shifting existing programs in new directions, and changing policies or practices that prevent survivors from accessing services or pursuing justice; Whereas National Crime Victims’ Rights Week provides an opportunity to recommit to listening to crime survivors in every space where decisions are made that could impact them; and Whereas The Alleghany Highlands Victim Witness Assistance Program is hereby dedicated to amplifying the voices of survivors and creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors, Covington City Council, Clifton Forge Town Council, and Iron Gate Town Council do hereby proclaim the week of April 23-29, 2023, as Crime Victims’ Rights Week reaffirming the Government of the Alleghany Highlands’ commitment to creating a victim service and criminal justice response that assists all victims of crime during Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year; and expressing our sincere gratitude and appreciation for those community members, victim service providers, and criminal justice professionals who are committed to improving our response to all victims of crime so that they may find relevant assistance, support, justice, and peace.

* * * * *