Events Across Georgia: National Crime Victims' Rights Week 2008

NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK
Justice for Victims. Justice for All.
April 13-19, 2008

To honor individuals who have been impacted by crime, many organizations and agencies organize ceremonies, workshops and prevention activities. The Georgia judicial circuits also plan formal and informal tributes. Although most events revolve around the actual week, the whole month is used to promote this important cause. Here are some of the scheduled events and contact information.

Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
Thursday, April 17, 2008
2008 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Commemorative Service
View the invitation
State Capitol, North Wing
11:30 AM

Sponsored by the: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Department of Corrections, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council, and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. For more information: Paula P. Smith, 404-969-4001, ppsmith@pacga.org

Alapaha Judicial Circuit - Cathy H. Helms, District Attorney
(Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook and Lanier Counties)

Monday, April 14, 2008
National Crime Victims Rights Vigil
Homerville, Georgia
6:00 PM

The Public is invited to this event. You are encouraged to attend to learn more and to support victims of crimes. 

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Open House at the Department of Juvenile Justice Office
1334 South Mill Street, Suite B
Lakeland, Georgia
12:00 Noon

This event is open to all and will feature information booths, speaker, light lunch, and more. For information, to add a booth or to RSVP, call: Lisa Beth Williams at 229-482-8091, X213, Connie Hewett at 912-422-3202, JoShannon Dickson at 229-896-5638, or Sarah Surratt at 229-686-7856

Thursday, April 17, 2008
National Crime Victims Rights Vigil
Pearson, Georgia
6:00 PM

The Public is invited to this event. You are encouraged to attend to learn more and to support victims of crimes.

Brunswick Judicial Circuit - Stephen D. Kelley, District Attorney
(Glynn, Appling, Camden, Jeff Davis and Wayne Counties)

Friday, April 18, 2008
Crime Victim's Rights Week Memorial Ceremony
Wayne County High School
Jesup, Georgia 31545
11:00 AM
Invitations will be sent

Friday, April 18, 2008
Crime Victim's Rights Week Memorial Ceremony
Appling County Courthouse Annex
Baxley , Georgia 31545
1:00 PM
Invitations will be sent

Friday, April 18, 2008
Crime Victim's Rights Week Memorial Ceremony
Jeff Davis County Courthouse
Hazlehurst, Georgia 31545
3:00 PM
Invitations will be sent

Friday, April 18, 2008
Crime Victim's Rights Week Memorial Ceremony
Glynn Place Mall
Brunswick, Georgia 31545
Time: TBA
Invitations will be sent

Cherokee Judicial Circuit - T. Joseph Campbell, District Attorney
(Bartow and Gordon Counties)

April 13-19, 2008
Crime Victims Awareness Quilt Display
Various locations throughout the Circuit
View photos of the quilt

Sandy Templeton Victim-Witness Assistance Program Director

Cobb Judicial Circuit - Patrick Head, District Attorney
(Cobb County)

Sunday, April 13, 2008
Annual Crime Victims' Memorial Service
Northside United Methodist Church
Atlanta, Georgia
7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Law enforcement training in conjunction with YWCA Sexual Assault Program (SANE program)

Thursday, April 17, 2008 
Victims' Rights Awareness Fair
Kennesaw State University
12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Community Awareness
Presentation at Paulding YDC

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Sexual Assault Awareness Vigil
Marietta Square
6:00 PM

Cordele Judicial Circuit - Denise D. Fachini, District Attorney
(Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly and Wilcox Counties)

Friday, April 11, 2008
Proclamation Service
Law Enforcement Appreciation Breakfast
Crisp County Extension Building
10:00 AM

Breakfast available for law enforcement community beginning at 9:00 AM. Additional Law Enforcement Appreciation events throughout the week at local law enforcement offices.

Sunday, April 13, 2008
Community Ministry Outreach
Circuit churches

Monday, April 14, 2008
Road Blocks
10:00 AM – 11:00AM

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Candlelight Vigil
Crisp Co. Sheriff’s Office
Victims’ Memorial Wall
6:00 PM

For more information on 2008 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, please contact Amy Lapeza, VWAP Director, or Will McKee, VWAP Advocate at 229-276-2625 or Celanese Floyd, VWAP Coordinator at 229-426-5156.

Crime Victim’s Advocacy Council

Sunday, April 13, 2008
Crime Victim’s Memorial Service
Northside United Methodist Church
2799 Northside DR
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
7:00 PM

The service will include a message about Restorative Justice and a ministry of healing, Victim Education/Crime Prevention and Teen Prostitution/Sexual Exploitation Prevention, Support Groups and Individual Sessions (at no cost) and Legislative Education and Criminal Justice Information. This is an annual event. This year a special candle will be lit for college students slain this year. Everyone is welcome. For further information, contact Dr. Bruce Cook at 770-333-92544 or askcvac@aol.com; Northside United Methodist Church at www.gbgm-umc.org/org/cvac

DeKalb County Solicitor's Office
Robert James, Solicitor-General

Friday, April 18, 2008
Third Annual Balloon Release in Honor of Victims of all Crime
Hosted by the DeKalb County Domestic Violence Task Force
Decatur Square – Gazebo next to the Courthouse
556 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM

Questions: Betsy Ramsey, Victim-Witness Assistance Program Director 404 371-4773 or bmramsey@co.dekalb.ga.us

Dougherty Judicial Circuit - Kenneth B. Hodges, District Attorney
(Dougherty County)

Monday, April 7, 2008
10th Annual Victims' Rights Week Golf Tournament
River Pointe Golf Club
8:00 AM

April 13-19, 2008
Donate your good used clothing to the "Blue Jean Drive"
Room 224

April 13-19, 2008
Blood Drive in Honor and in Memory of all Victims
American Red Cross
1515 Dawson Road
Monday - Wednesday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday - Saturday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A Silent Walk
Meet at Turtle Grove Park at 9:45 AM and proceed to the
Wreath Proclamation Presentation at the Judicial Building at 10:00 AM

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Bells will toll in honor of all victims
12:00 NOON

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sex Offenders and their Victims: The Justice System's Response
Darton College, Building B, Room 101
1:00 PM

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope
First United Methodist Church
Walden Chapel
Corner of Flint & Jackson
7:00 PM

For questions about any of the events in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit, please call the Victim Witness Assistance Division in the Office of the District Attorney (229) 438-3985

Fayette County Solicitor's Office
James K. Inagawa, Solicitor-General

Thursday, April 17 & Friday, April 18, 2008
Second Annual Charity Yard Sale and Hot Dog Sale
We’re Cleaning Out Our Closets to Clean Up Child Abuse in Fayette County!
“Log Cabin” American Legion Post 105
Highway 85, Downtown Fayetteville
8:00 AM- 4:00 PM

All proceeds to benefit Fayette Youth Protection Homes, dedicated to children and youth who have been the victims of abuse or neglect. To make donations or donate items for sale, call (770) 716-4260

Flint Judicial Circuit - Tommy K. Floyd, District Attorney
(Henry County)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Law Enforcement Recognition
On the Square in McDonough
(in the courthouse if inclement weather)
11:00 AM

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Annual Memorial Service in honor of homicide victims and their families
Shiloh Baptist Church
253 Macon Street
McDonough, Georgia 30253
7:00 PM

Please join us for any or all of these events.
RSVP to 770-288-6351

Gwinnett Judicial Circuit - Danny Porter, District Attorney
(Gwinnett County)

Tuesday April 15, 2008
Crime Victims’ Memorial Wreath Hanging Ceremony
Gwinnett Justice & Administration Building
75 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045
10:00 AM

Sponsored by the Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Program. Contact Stan L. Hall, Director at 770-822-8444.

Macon Judicial Circuit - Howard Simms, District Attorney
(Bibb, Crawford and Peach Counties)

Monday, April 14, 2008
Restoring My Joy
Written by: Theresa L. Harris
A dramatic re-enactment of an act of Domestic Violence
and its effect on others
Douglass Theater
335 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Macon, Georgia 31201
7:00 PM

Free Admission. Sponsored by District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Program & Lizzie Chapel Baptist Church

Tuesday, April 15 & Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Macon/Middle Georgia Domestic Violence Conference
Central Georgia Technical College
3300 Macon Tech Drive
Macon, Georgia 31204
Registration: $60.00
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Sponsored by Central GA Council on Family Violence and the District Attorney’s Office & District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Program. Point of Contact: J. D. Collins (478) 621-6427

Thursday, April 17, 2008
Department of Juvenile Justice Open House
Regional Youth Development Center (RYDC)
4157 Riggins Mill Road
Macon, Georgia 31217
12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM

Sponsored by & District Attorney’s Office & District Attorney’s Victim Witness Assistance Program participating with Department of Juvenile Justice. Point of Contact: Bernardra Johnson (478) 751-4091 or (404) 683-25461


Thursday, April 17, 2008
Take Back the Night
Empowerment march and candlelight vigil to help shatter the silence by speaking out against sexual violence.
3rd Street Park to Washington Park
Macon, Georgia 31201
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Sponsored by Multi-Agencies: Juvenile Court, Crisis Line & SafeHouse of Central Georgia, Department of Juvenile Justice’s BARJ Program, District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program, Judicial Citizen Review Board, J.U.S.T. Children of Macon, Inc., Mercer’s Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance. Point of Contact: Karen Warren (478) 621-6038    

Mothers Against Drunk Driving
(Atlanta)

Saturday, April 19, 2008
Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope
Georgia Power Arkwright Auditorium

241 Ralph McGill Boulevard, NE

Atlanta, GA 30308
4:00 PM
Reception Immediately Following

Please RSVP to MADD GA Victim Services with the total number attending and their names by April 4, 2008.  
Phone: 770-615-3737 or 1-888-833-6033 or email: cchagain@maddga.org
More Info at  maddga.org

Victim & Survivor Photos must be turned in by April 4, 2008 to be used during the presentation. Please send a signed photo consent release form and two non-returnable photos (one main photo & one photo of the person doing something they loved) to: MADD GA Vigil, 1000 Circle 75 Parkway SE, Suite 45, Atlanta, GA 30339-3026. Photos that are emailed must be at least 300dpi, high quality JPEG files. Call or email MADD GA to get a photo consent release form.

Southern Judicial Circuit - J. David Miller, District Attorney
(Brooks, Colquitt, Echols, Lowndes and Thomas Counties)


Tuesday, April 15, 2008        
Victims Rights Ceremony
Colquitt County Courthouse
11:30 AM
Read the coverage of this event in The Moultrie Observer

Wednesday, April 16, 2008  
Victims Rights Ceremony
Lowndes County Courthouse
12:00 NOON
Read the coverage of this event in The Valdosta Daily Times

Friday, April 18, 2008
Victims Rights Ceremony
Thomas County Courthouse
11:00 AM

Local law enforcement agencies will be recognized for the work they do for our victims. Each ceremony will feature a survivor sharing their story.

South Georgia Judicial Circuit - Joe Mulholland, District Attorney
(Calhoun, Baker, Mitchell, Decatur and Grady Counties)

Monday, April 14, 2008
Blood Drive Thru
Southeastern Community Blood Center will set up at First Baptist Church
Bainbridge, Georgia
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Wendy Knight, Victim-Witness Assistance Program Director

Towaliga Judicial Circuit- Richard Milam, District Attorney
(Butts, Lamar and Monroe Counties)

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Candlelight Vigil
Butts County Courthouse
On the Square in Jackson
6:00 PM

The purpose of this Vigil is to honor victims of crime and those who serve and protect them, including law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, search and rescue personnel, firefighters, protective services workers, child advocates, 911 operators, counselors, prosecutors, victim advocates, and all the others who selflessly work for justice. District Attorney Richard Milam and his staff will also be supporting the establishment of a HAVEN House office in Jackson to assist the victims of domestic violence, serving Butts and Lamar Counties. HAVEN House has been serving our communities for years from their location in Henry County, and they will be opening an office in Jackson in the near future.