PHILADELPHIA—This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is observed from April 21 to 27, 2024. FBI Philadelphia joins our federal, state, and local partners in honoring crime victims and survivors, along with recognizing the professionals and volunteers who provide critical victim services.

The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. When federal crimes occur, the FBI works to bring the perpetrators to justice. But the job doesn’t stop there. One of the most important roles we play is assisting victims of federal crime through our Victim Services Division (VSD).

VSD’s mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience. Our victim services professionals strive to provide victims with empowerment, dignity, and justice. Each of the FBI’s 56 field offices has Victim Specialists. As a vital partner in the FBI’s response to crime, Victim Specialists work directly with Special Agents and serve as the critical link to ensure that victims of crimes investigated by the FBI are provided their rights and are connected to the necessary support, services, and resources.

The Victim Services Division also manages several specialized resources, including the FBI’s Crisis Response Canine program, the Victim Services Response Team, and Trauma Notification Training.

“Our mission at the FBI is to protect the American people, and that includes supporting victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring victims are afforded the rights and services they need.”

Since its inception in 2001, the FBI’s victim assistance program has provided services – such as crisis intervention, emergency travel assistance, and local referrals for counseling, housing, and other services—to over 2 million victims and has conducted over 14,000 child/adolescent forensic interviews.

For more information about FBI resources available to crime victims, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services.

For more information about the rights of federal crime victims, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/rights-of-federal-crime-victims.