HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2023-4626

HR 4626

ByRepresentatives Graham, Caldier, Abbarno, Barkis, Barnard, Chambers, Chandler, Cheney, Christian, Connors, Corry, Couture, Dent, Dye, Eslick, Goehner, Griffey, Harris, Hutchins, Jacobsen, Klicker, Kretz, Low, Maycumber, McClintock, McEntire, Mosbrucker, Orcutt, Robertson, Rude, Sandlin, Schmick, Steele, Stokesbary, Volz, Walsh, Waters, Wilcox, Ybarra, and Schmidt

WHEREAS, Survivors of crimes, regardless of the offense committed against them, often carry physical scars, injuries, disabilities, and emotional trauma as a result of surviving these attacks; and

WHEREAS, According to the united health foundation, "America's Health Rankings in 2022," for every 1,000 residents of Washington in 2020, there were 2.94 instances of violent crime in the form of murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults; and

WHEREAS, According to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs in 2021, there were 325 cases of murder, 36 cases of manslaughter, 2,572 cases of rape, 17,440 cases of aggravated assault, 1,376 cases of kidnapping, 211 cases of statutory rape, 65 cases of human trafficking, and 365,122 reported incidences of crimes against property amounting to over 1.2 billion dollars of stolen property; and

WHEREAS, The national coalition against domestic violence estimates that 41.4 percent of Washington women and 31.7 percent of Washington men experience intimate partner rape, stalking, or other physical violence; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Justice report "Socio-emotional Impact of Violent Crime," victims often face nonphysical challenges, such as the possibility of trauma and posttraumatic stress or socio-emotional problems, affecting their ability to trust or function day-to-day; and

WHEREAS, The impact of all crime often affects more than just the direct victims, devastating thousands of these victims' families and friends across Washington as well; and

WHEREAS, Law-abiding citizens are deserving of justice, rights, resources, restoration, and rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, The Washington state house of representatives recognize the importance of honoring victims regardless of the manner, size, or type of crime committed against them because of the adversity they face and the resilience they exemplify;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the house of representatives recognize the plight of those affected and victimized by all types of crime, whether violent or nonviolent, and honor those victims and the survivors amongst them; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the victim support services, the office of crime victim's advocacy, and L&I's crime victim's compensation programs.