Ensuring crime victims' rights including fairness, dignity, and respect is the focus of this year's Crime Victims' Rights Week, which kicks off locally with events coordinated by the Caddo Sheriff's Office at LSU-S.

A service honoring crime victims will be held at noon, Monday, April 19, at the University Center. Sheriff Steve Prator will present a proclamation recognizing crime victims and reaffirming local government's commitment to respect and enforce victims' rights throughout the year. Joining the Sheriff will be Police Chief Henry Whitehorn, Fire Chief Brian Crawford, City Marshal Charlie Caldwell, DA Charles Scott, Coroner Todd Thoma, and Mayor Cedric Glover.

 A free information fair will be conducted afterward until 3 p.m. Representatives of a number of agencies will staff booths and distribute information on services and resources available to the community. The public is invited to attend.

Agencies participating in the fair are the Caddo Sheriff's Office Crime Victims' Reparations and Elderly Crime Victims' programs, Caddo District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program, Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers, the Gingerbread House, Forensic Nurse Examiners of Louisiana, Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Providence House, YWCA, Legal Services of Northwest Louisiana, MADD, Shreveport Mental Health, MLK Health Clinic/Women's Health Program, LA Cancer Control Partnership/Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, and LA Association on Compulsive Gambling.

For more information, contact Deputy Pam Dixon at 681-0870. Camera-ready art, statistics, or additional information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw/welcome.html.