U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 19-25.

NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims of crime, promote victims’ rights, and recognize those who work with and advocate on behalf of victims of crime. The theme for this year’s observance is Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities. Our victim witness professionals listen with compassion as victims share their stories and provide guidance throughout every step of the criminal justice process.  The financial litigation team acts diligently to recover illegally obtained funds on behalf of crime victims.  And every day, Assistant U.S. Attorneys appear in court to advocate for the rights of victims under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and ensure those rights are protected. 

“This week we honor the strength and resilience of crime victims and survivors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “Together with our law enforcement and community partners, we will continue working to ensure that no victim feels alone and that justice is accessible to all.”

Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama has provided direct services to over 700 crime victims. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to maintain pivotal partnerships with One Place Metro Birmingham Family Justice Center, One Place of the Shoals, the National Children’s Advocacy Center, North Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention. These partnerships are key to expanding access to services and enabling crime victims to find the justice they seek, in whatever form that might take.

In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Financial Litigation Program (FLP) has worked tirelessly to recover illegally obtained funds and return them to crime victims. In 2025, the FLP collected over $12.3 million in restitution debts imposed in criminal cases. These funds were provided directly to crime victims. The FLP also collected nearly $309,000 in fines imposed in criminal cases in 2025.

U.S. Attorney’s Office staff will attend the following events to commemorate NCVRW 2026:

• One Heart in the Park hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00a.m. – 2:00p.m. at East Lake Park.
• NCVRW Candlelight Vigil hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Bessemer Division, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Perfecting Reconciliation Church.

Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Program can be found here.

For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist crime victims in your community, please visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov.