It's Nat'l Crime Victims' Rights Week

Postal Inspector Claudia Angel and General Analyst Damaris Santiago of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division attended the awareness event.

Local, state and federal agencies are observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week as a way to promote victims’ rights and honor those who advocate on their behalf.  During the week of April 6, the U.S. Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service are working with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime to raise the awareness of postal customers and employees support of victims’ rights. This is the ninth year of this partnership.

The theme is “30 Years: Restoring the Balance of Justice,” marking the progress made since the enactment of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. The law established an infrastructure for victim-assistance programs and funding for victim compensation in all 50 states.

Communications Programs Specialist Debra Fetterly joined Postal Inspector Claudia Angel and General Analyst Damaris Santiago of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division at a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week event in Coral Gables.  As keynote speaker, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, State Attorney for Miami-Dade County, announced that she had dedicated a team of staff members to investigate kidnapping of children and to end human trafficking.  Families of victims also spoke to increase awareness of sexual exploitation.  Several individuals and law enforcement agencies were recognized for their ongoing efforts in helping kidnapped and runaway children return home.

During the week-long observance, the Miami Division will set up educational displays in the lobbies of the Miami GMF Finance Unit and Fort Lauderdale Main Office, as well as several locations in the South Florida community.  Participants will include Postal Inspectors Blanca Alvarez, Jannie Fernandez, Ralph Garcia, Vivian Guerrero, Scott Horne, and Ivan Ramirez; General Analysts Larry Alfonso, Liz Collier, and Damaris Santiago; and Operations Technicians Karina Capo, Robert LaTorre, and Mary McCurry.