April 18 through 24 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme for recognition of crime victims is “Fairness, Dignity and Respect,” which encourages us all to raise awareness about these foundation principles and to continue striving to ensure that all crime victims are still treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

National Crime Victims’ Right Week is a time for all Americans to learn about the dynamics of victimization, reflect on the cost of crime on their community and our society, and vigorously support and promote the enactment and application of laws, policies and programs to help victims of crime rebuild shattered lives.

Only a few decades ago, unfairness, indignities, and disrespect confronted many victims of crime. As of 2010, every state has passed victims rights laws, and 32 states have constitution victims’ rights amendments. There are more than 10,000 victim assistance programs throughout the country, and every state has a crime victim compensation fund.

Such changes have made victims participants, rather than bystanders, in the criminal justice system.

Despite all of the programs and all of the progress in supporting victims and their rights, much work remains. Victim rights are meaningless unless they are enforced. Some victims never learn about victim compensation or receive victim services. Some surviving family members of crime death cases are forced to suffer an overwhelming victimization without assistance, because victim rights were not enacted.

Some courts deny victims the right to be heard at sentencing or receive no notice when an offender is released. Some courts fail to issue protection orders to keep victims safe or they fail to order restitution. For victims that receive court orders for restitution, all too often offenders are released from probation without having met their obligations of restitution, leaving the victims with another act of betrayal. Such failures block victim’s access to their rights.

When a victim reports a crime because an officer treats him/her fairly, it enhances the safety of the entire community. When a court hears an impact statement or issues an order of restitution which is enforced by conditions of probation, victims learn the power of fairness, dignity and respect. Yet, when our nation falls short on these ideals, we fail victims and dishonor the progress we mark this week.

Lake County is fortunate that we have the Lake County District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program, which excels in their on-going support and advocacy, assisting victims and survivors of crime. These victim advocates work tirelessly to give victims a voice and to help crime victims and their families understand the rights they are guaranteed under the California criminal justice system.

Knowing first hand the indignities and lack of enforcement victims suffer from some agencies outside of Lake County that fall short of enacting objectives, I commend the Lake County District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program as their guidance, dedication and commitment of services embody the ideals of Crime Victims Right Week: Fairness, dignity and respect.

Judy Thein is founder of Team DUI and the mayor of the city of Clearlake.