Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice brings together chapters of crime victims from regions across the state for first time in Austin
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Two hundred diverse crime survivors from across Texas will gather together for the first time at the Capitol to advocate for a safety agenda that makes communities safer and meets the needs of crime victims. Survivors Speak is hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice a network with over 25000 crime survivors in eight states including Texas. The network advocates for approaches to public safety that focus on stopping the cycle of crime and ensuring crime survivors receive the services and support needed to recover. At the event survivors will share stories honor loved ones and advocate for a role as stakeholders in public safety decisions and policies that support survivors and safer communities.
WHAT: Survivors Speak Texas 2019: Press conference/rally and vigil
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday February 19
11:15 am 11:30 a.m.
Press conference on South side of Texas Capitol 1100 Congress Avenue Austin
11:30 am 12:20 p.m.
Vigil inside the Texas Capitol Rotunda
WHO:
- State Senator John Whitmire
- State Representative James White
- Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
- Survivors of crime from across Texas
- State and local leaders and elected officials
- Community and faith leaders
WHY:
Survivors of crime experience significant challenges to recovering and healing with at-least 8 in 10 reporting that they experience at least one symptom of trauma following an incident. Most victims do not get the kind of help someone might need to heal: one survey found two out of every three crime victims report receiving no help following the incident. Only 8 percent of all victims of violence receive direct assistance from a victim service agency and this already low number drops to 4 percent when the crime is unreportedwhich is the case for more than half of all violent crimes. Crime survivors who are young low income or from communities of color are often those most harmed by crime and violence but receive the least help.
For too long the voices and experiences of diverse crime survivors have been ignored in public safety policymaking. Despite tremendous increases in spending most justice systems have failed to adequately meet the needs of survivors and stop the cycle of crime. Instead of putting the needs of survivors first billions of dollars have been wasted on ineffective policies.
Survivors Speak brings together crime survivors from across the state of Texas at the State Capitol to advocate for policies that prevent crime better support survivors families and communities and reduce wasteful incarceration. Survivors Speak elevates the voices of diverse crime survivors to ensure their experiences shape public safety and justice policies.
About Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice:
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice is a flagship project of the Alliance for Safety and Justice a national organization that aims to win new safety priorities in states across the country. Alliance for Safety and Justice partners with leaders and advocates to advance state reform through networking coalition building research education and advocacy.
For more information visit: https://cssj.org
