PIERRE, S.D. (Press Release) – South Dakota’s Victims’ Services program urges citizens this month to remember the victims of crime, especially children.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the week of April 7-13 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Victims’ Services Director Stephanie Pierson says the entire month, and especially the designated week, are a chance to raise awareness about victims’ issues and rights.

“No matter who they are, everybody has a right to be protected and feel safe,” she says. “We use this week and month as ways to remind victims of violent crimes that there are services and resources available for them throughout South Dakota.”

In federal fiscal year 2018, Victims’ Services funded programs throughout South Dakota that provided services to more 46,000 victims.

The theme for this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.” The theme celebrates the progress already made in helping victims of crime while also looking at the future, where there will additional crime victim services that will be even more inclusive, accessible and trauma-informed.

As part of the week, Tuesday, April 9, is “South Dakota Wear Blue Day” in observance of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month. Citizens are urged to wear blue to demonstrate a visible comment to preventing child abuse and supporting strong families and healthy children.

South Dakota’s Victims’ Services provides funding to programs that offer shelter, advocacy, crisis counseling and other victims’ services to sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and other violent crime victims. For more information about Victims’ Services, visit its website at https://dps.sd.gov/victims-services.

Victims’ Services is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.