What NCVRW Is and How to Get Involved

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) is an annual observance that brings communities together and raises awareness about victims’ rights and services. This is an opportunity to honor survivors and recognize organizations that have been fighting for victims’ rights, forge new partnerships to better serve and support victims of crime and strengthen existing partnerships.

NCVRW has been held in April every year since 1981. In 2026, we will observe NCVRW on April 19–25 with the theme —

Listen. Act. Advocate. 
Protect victims, serve communities.

You can take part in NCVRW by using content in this resource guide to raise awareness, hold discussions with your network about resources for victims and print out fliers from the artwork section to place in local businesses or anywhere they’ll be visible by the public. 

Developing Your Awareness Messaging

You may see professional victim service organizations in your area launch awareness campaigns during NCVRW, and you can do the same. Your organization can create and post social media content to highlight services in your area and encourage your peers to be prepared to help survivors of crime. You can also print any artwork to use for fliers, bookmarks, posters or other materials to distribute in your community.

Use this resource guide to find relevant information on victims’ issues, rights, and services that you can share in person and online. You can also research local and national organizations that help victims so that you’ll be prepared to offer resources if the time comes. Additionally, look up local organizations online and check their websites and social media accounts to see if they are holding any observations or events for NCVRW — and then participate yourself or share information about the event!

Artwork

View the official NCVRW artwork. It’s free to use as is, and can also be customized for use on social media or for other awareness efforts.

Sample PowerPoint Template

This resource guide includes a sample PowerPoint template featuring the 2026 NCVRW theme and design. Use the template to prepare and customize your own NCVRW PowerPoint presentations. 

Developing Community Partnerships

Consider partnering with community organizations, businesses and other local entities to maximize your efforts to raise awareness during NCVRW and beyond. 

Once you decide to participate in NCVRW events, identify potential partners within your community. Contact them right away and explore ways to partner. Ask businesses, faith communities, professional associations and other partners to lend their skills, resources and staff time to promote NCVRW and victims’ rights, issues and resources. 

Consider reaching out to any group, business or organization that hosts gatherings or interacts often with the public. For example, you may contact student groups, amateur sports leagues for both adults and children, barbershops or salons or your local public parks and recreation department. By joining forces, you will create a memorable campaign in your community and lay the foundation for future outreach. 

Step 1: Decide What You Are Looking for in a Partnership

Partnerships are valuable opportunities to support the professional development of organizations and individuals in your network, as well as to find creative solutions to challenging problems and goals in your community. When building partnerships, consider the following: 

• What skills do you have that you can share with others?
• What is your area of expertise and who could benefit from learning more about it?
• What expertise or skills are you or your organization missing?
• Can you or someone in your organization play a leadership role in building this partnership?
• How will this effort contribute to or expand access to services for victims of crime?

Step 2: Identify Potential Partners

It is important to recognize that, in addition to other victim service organizations, many other entities, including businesses, sports teams, and law enforcement agencies have the potential to be a valuable partner in raising awareness about NCVRW or other events. Here are a few suggestions on ways to create hope in your community now and in the future:

• Provide education about victims’ rights and options. NCVRW is an opportunity to educate your local community about the rights of crime victims. Hosting an information fair, fundraiser, school assembly or other community event is a great way to build partnerships, increase the visibility of local victim service providers, and support a greater understanding of victims’ rights and options following a crime.
• Raise awareness. Local community centers and businesses often have space available for hanging posters, collecting donation items and hosting events. These partnerships are important for developing lasting community engagement. 

Building partnerships takes time and energy. However, strategic partnerships can have a lasting impact on a community. Use this NCVRW to motivate, strengthen and launch partnerships in your community.