Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General To Host Victims' Rights Day Rally In Capitol Rotunda

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that his office will be hosting the 18th annual Kentucky Crime Victims’ Rights Day Rally in the Capitol Rotunda on April 28 at 1 p.m. The rally is part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, and this year’s theme is "25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act."

The Victims of Crime Act was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and provided national statutory rights to victims of crime along with funds to expand and enhance director services to victims of crime. The Victims of Crime Act has since been amended to place special emphasis on the victims of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault and underserved victim populations.

Featured speakers at the event will include General Conway and Mildred Muhammad. Muhammad is a domestic violence survivor, author and anti-violence activist. She is the ex-wife of John Muhammad, more notoriously known as the "D.C. Sniper." She endured years of physical and mental abuse during her marriage to him that culminated in multiple death threats.  Muhammad and her three children fled their home in the state of Washington for a new life in Maryland. It was at this time that the entire country became aware of the actions of John Muhammad as he stalked his former wife across the United States, randomly shooting and killing innocent citizens and terrorizing a nation.

The first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week was in 1981. Since then, the field of victims’ rights and services has contributed to many accomplishments that enhance individual and community safety. Today, there are more than 10,000 justice system and community-based programs that inform and educate victims about their rights, and provide supportive services to help them cope with the physical, emotional, financial and spiritual impact of crime. More than 32,000 laws have been passed at the state and federal levels that define and protect victims’ rights, including the Kentucky Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights (KRS 421.500-421.575).

"I hope that people will take time to remember Kentucky families who have been the victims of violent crimes," General Conway said. "I work each and every day to make sure those victims have a voice and that the victims have an opportunity to be victors."

Advocates, victims, families of victims, law-enforcement officers, prosecutors and volunteers will attend the rally. It is open to the public.