Blog Post
National Crime Victims' Week 2024
Each year in April, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode joins U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which honors crime victims and those who serve them. This year's theme is How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors. National Crime Victims' Rights Week is highlighted annually in Rhode Island at Providence's Victim's Grove at Memorial Park with an event honoring the strength and resiliency of victims, victim advocates, and victim service providers.
United States Attorney Zachary Cunha is honored to be among those selected to speak, and to recognize the sole survivor of a horrific car crash caused by an impaired, and whose unrelenting energies now support fellow victims and survivors.
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Mr. Cunha delivered the following remarks:
It is always so humbling, for me, personally, to gather here with you each year to remember what is, fundamentally, one of the most important reasons why all of us here, whatever our roles , do the work that we do: to stand up for, to speak up for, to support and to seek justice for the victims of crime, whose grace and fortitude are an example to us all. Not just when we pause and gather here to remember and commemorate them, but every day because they remind us of what is truly important.
That makes me particularly delighted today to present a victim service award to Rebecca White. On October 29, 1989, Rebecca was the sole survivor of a horrific impaired driving crash that took the lives of her mother, Marsha Bowman, and her best friend Katie DeCubellis. In the nearly quarter century that has passed since that day, Rebecca has been a pillar of compassionate, unrelenting support for fellow victims and survivors.
In her role as Program Coordinator for Youth Driven, a traffic safety youth leadership initiative, she assists Mothers Against Drunk Driving with their Victim Adoption program, bridging the gap between victim families and high school leadership groups. When COVID threatened to shut it down, Rebecca kept the victim adoption program alive and flourishing, refusing to allow families to go without supportive services they have come to depend on.
If this year’s theme is “How would you help?” Rebecca embodies that theme every day, selflessly showing up for victims and survivors- providing empowerment opportunities including peer support services, speaking engagements and event facilitation- whenever, wherever, and however they are most needed.
It is my great honor to present this award to her today for her years of dedicated service to and advocacy for our most vulnerable community members.
Rebecca, congratulations.
Next, please join me as we honor Renee Castelli with our next 2024 crime victim service award. Renee currently works as a Law Enforcement Advocate for the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center. Renee has been devoted to supporting victims from across the state since her work as an advocate began in early 2020.
COVID brought consistent instability to Rene’s work as a Law Enforcement Advocate, forcing her to adapt to new agencies, supervisors, police departments, and communities as she moved between various service agencies. While these employment changes would be stressful to most of us, Renee was unflappable and embraced the challenges as a way to show her dedication to working in the field of victim services. Over the past four years, she has continued to be a support to victims, law enforcement officers and the community. Her dedication to the field is invaluable and her sensitive and approachable attitude makes her a fantastic advocate. Please join me in congratulating Renee, who I would like to invite to the podium to accept your award, and to say a few words.
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The event, hosted by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, also included presentations by Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa, Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr., and Candace Johndrow, Vice President, Hope Division, Family Service of RI.
Updated April 25, 2024
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Community Outreach
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