·         DMACC Will Kick Off National Crime Victims’ Rights Activities Beginning April 11.

 

·         Activities are Planned for the DMACC Ankeny, Boone and Urban Campuses, as well as at the DMACC Ames Hunziker Center and the DMACC Perry VanKirk Center.

 

·        The Theme of This Year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “Rights, Access, Equity for all Victims.”

 

ANKENY, Iowa—National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has been observed in Iowa and across the country each April since 1981, to raise awareness about crime victims’ issues and rights, and introduce the community to the important resources and services available. According to the most recent Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey, U.S. residents age 12 or older experienced 4.6 million violent victimizations and U.S. households experienced an estimated 12.8 million property crimes in 2020.   Overall, violent victimization rates fell 22% and property victimizations fell by about 6% from 2019 to 2020.

On April 11 through 15, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) will commemorate the advancement of victims’ rights and highlight issues surrounding victimization by holding various activities such as installations and agency informational tables on the DMACC Ankeny, Boone and Urban Campuses, as well as at the DMACC Ames Hunziker Center and Perry VanKirk Center.

The year’s NCVRW theme – Rights, access, equity, for all victims – encourages honor and respect toward crime victims and victim advocates, allied professionals and the selfless volunteers who have courageously worked for increased rights for crime victims. This theme highlights helping crime survivors find their justice by enforcing victims’ rights, expanding access to services, and ensuring equity and inclusion for all.

DMACC programs participating include: Criminal Justice, Fashion Design Institute, Graphic Design, Boone Theatre Program, and the Iowa Culinary Institute. In addition, DMACC’s Counseling Services, Boone Campus Social Justice Club, and Student Activities Councils across campuses are collaborating in events from April 11 through April 15, a few weeks prior to the national celebration at the end of the month.

According to the 2020 National Crime Victimization Survey, only 49 percent of violent victimizations were reported to law enforcement.  The decision to report is a complex one.  Every victimization is significant, as it impacts the survivor and the larger community.

“At DMACC, we are first a community, and second a college, and so it is just right for this organization to bring together resources, services, awareness-raising and education across our many communities,” said DMACC Criminal Justice Professor Dr. Samantha O’Hara. “We strongly encourage the public and groups to attend these activities.”

Ames Hunziker Center

Date and Time: Monday – Friday, April 11-15, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location:  Commons Area

Activities:

·         Informational Table: victims services information from ACCESS​

·         Die-cut stickers and buttons, created by DMACC Graphic Design students

·         Light Refreshments/cookies, created by DMACC Culinary Arts students

Directions to DMACC Ames Hunziker Center​

Ankeny Campus
Date and time: Tuesday, April 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Bldg. 5 Student Center common areas

  Activities:

• “A Walk Through Time – Crime Victims’ Rights” installation, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• “What They Wore” – installation by DMACC Fashion Design Institute,
• Informational Tables: Victim services providers, government agencies, and others
• Die-cut stickers and buttons, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• Light Refreshments/cookies, created by DMACC Culinary Arts students

​Directions to DMACC Ankeny Campus​

 

Boone Campus
Date and time: Thursday, April 14, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Courter Center

      Activities:

• “A Walk Through Time – Crime Victims’ Rights” installation, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• Informational Tables: Victim services providers, government agencies, and others
• Die-cut stickers and buttons, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• Light Refreshments/cookies, created by DMACC Culinary Arts students

Date and time: Monday – Friday, April 11-15, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Location: Boone Campus

Activity:

• “What Were You Wearing” – installation created by DMACC Social Justice Club students

Directions to DMACC Boone Campus​

Perry Van Kirk Center

Date and time: Tuesday, April 12, 1:45 – 3:15 p.m. 

Location:  Criminal Justice classroom

Activity:

• Presentation by Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center on services provided and careers.  Open to the public.

Date and time: Thursday, April 14, 1:45 – 3:15 p.m.

Location: Perry Van Kirk Center, Criminal Justice classroom

Activity:

• Speaker:  Urbandale Police Department, Det. Chad Underwood

 

Date and time:  Tues. April 11 and Wed., April  12, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: Perry Van Kirk Center, in the hallways

Activities:

• “A Walk Through Time – Crime Victims’ Rights” installation, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• Die-cut stickers and buttons, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• Light Refreshments/cookies, made by DMACC Culinary Arts students

Directions to DMACC Perry Van Kirk Center​

Urban Campus

Date and time: Wed., April 13 and Thur., April 14, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Location: Bldg. 7, Atrium and conference rooms 170 and 171

 Activities:

• “A Walk Through Time – Crime Victims’ Rights” installation, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• “What They Wore” – window installation by DMACC Fashion Design Institute
• Informational Tables: Victim services providers, government agencies, and others
• Table Die-cut stickers and buttons, created by DMACC Graphic Design students
• Light Refreshments/cookies, made by DMACC Culinary Arts students

Directions to DMACC Urban Campus​

In the Community, April 24-30

• “A Walk Through Time – Crime Victims’ Rights”
  Installation by Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services
  Polk County River Plaza atrium, 
  April 25 through April 29, 
  8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  » Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services a​gency information and location​

• “What They Wore”
  Window installation by Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Staff,
  Polk County River Plaza atrium, 
  April 25 through April 29, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  » Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services a​gency information and location​

 

• “Crime Victims’ Ceremony and Peace Walk”
  Iowa 5th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services,
  Fort Des Moines Residential Facility,
   April 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  » Iowa 5th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services agency information and location​

»​ Event details

• “Victim’s Resource Fair & Victims’ Rights Week Benefit 5K and Kids Fun Run”
  Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services, Polk County Attorney’s Office, and Iowa Attorney General’s Office,

Des Moines Waterwork Park,

April 30, 9 a.m.
» ​ Event details and registration​

 

For more information on DMACC activities during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, contact Dr. Samantha O’Hara at (515) 964-6667 or sjohara@dmacc.edu.

For DMACC’s entire National Crime Victims’ Rights Week schedule go to https://www.dmacc.edu/programs/criminaljustice/Pages/crime.aspx and culturally-specific and local victim and survivor resources.