Crime victims plight, needs acknowledged in National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

BOWLING GREEN, KY. – With this week being National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Kentucky State Police, government agencies and community organizations are focusing on getting crime victims closer to being “back to normal.”

And Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron says within Kentucky’s legal system the victim is not forgotten. He also says different types of crime affect people in different ways, with victims of burglary and theft feeling different effects than those who have suffered abuse by someone else.

And it’s not just in court, local organizations dot the community to help with mental health, legal and financial needs. Tori Henninger, the executive director of the Barren River Area Safe Space, a community agency that assists and shelters victims of domestic violence, says an important step for those around victims of crime is simply the realization the crime happened.

And COVID-19 has even affected how the victims of crime receive help. Henninger said the shelter is still assisting domestic violence victims but it has meant taking safety measure like temperature checks.

As for the legal process, Cohron says jury trials are temporarily on hold but some hearings are being done through video conferencing.