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Presenter urges awareness of victims' rights at Chesapeake ceremony
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Summary
At a Crime Victims Rights ceremony in Chesapeake City, a presenter stressed that victims have rights and need support throughout the criminal-justice process; an agency official gave contact information for local victim-witness services, including (757) 382-6417 and the Chesapeake Sheriff website.
At a Crime Victims Rights ceremony in Chesapeake City, a presenter said the event was intended to remind the public that victims “actually have rights too” and to highlight resources that help people navigate the criminal-justice system.
The presenter said victims often face a focus on defendants and their rights, and that the ceremony seeks to ensure victims receive support, encouragement and community resources throughout the entire process. “They need support. They need encouragement. They need community resources,” the presenter said.
An agency official urged residents to seek out local victim-witness advocate programs and provided contact information for those who need assistance, saying, “If you call our main office, we can try to assist you” and giving the phone number as (757) 382-6417. The official also directed people to the Chesapeake Sheriff website, advising visitors to look under the administration section for “victim witness” to find phone and email contacts.
The presenter returned to note the ceremony’s remembrance function, specifically honoring people who have lost their lives in cases such as homicide, DUI fatalities and involuntary manslaughter, and emphasized that support is available even if there is no trial or after trials conclude. “We want them to know that we are here to support them,” the presenter said, adding that such observances help keep victims’ memory alive.
The ceremony combined a public reminder of victims’ legal standing with practical guidance on where to find local services; organizers asked anyone needing help to contact the main office number or the victim-witness information on the Chesapeake Sheriff website.
