Ceremony held in Jefferson City to honor victims of crimes

Friday’s event at the state Capitol had a ceremony observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for those who have fallen victim to crimes or those who have survived them.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety said Friday’s ceremony focused on victims knowing their rights and the support they have.

Speakers at Friday’s ceremony talked about the importance of victims having access to resources and support.

Last month, Gov. Eric Greitens signed House Bill 1246, which combats human trafficking, just one of many crimes that take place in Mid-Missouri.

The bill is designed to require places such as bus stops, airports and many other locations to have visible posters that will include resources for victims of sexual activity — housework, farm-work, for example — in which they feel trapped.

At Friday’s event, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft talked about the importance of how these victims can stay away from their abusers.

“Individuals that are in a situation like that, where they are concerned that their abuser, the individual that’s been victimizing them might be able to find them and to continue that abuse or to come after them for trying to leave that life. We have an address confidentiality program for that,” Ashcroft said.

The poster that is currently being developed by the Department of Public Safety will be required to be up in a visible location at certain locations by March 1, 2019. To read the full bill, click here.

The National Crime Victims Rights Week wants those who attended Friday’s event to continue to support victims and the state’s effort to reduce all sorts of crimes.