3852

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Signed May 15, 1984.

No. 28

(House Joint Resolution No. 55)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

Task Force on Victims Services

FOR the purpose of requesting that the Governor establish a Task
Force on Victims Services; providing for membership,
appointment, and staffing of the Task Force; providing that
the Task Force report to the Governor and the General
Assembly by a certain date; and generally relating to
establishing a Task Force on Victims Services.

WHEREAS, The Federal Task Force on Victims has made certain
recommendations for Victims' Rights and Services to be addressed
on the State level; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Task Force on Victims has recommended
that existing services provided by the State be evaluated and
reviewed; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Task Force has recommended that a
survey be conducted to determine the need for additional services
within the State; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly of Maryland acknowledges the
need to provide quality services to victims of crimes committed
within the State; and

WHEREAS, The State has a moral responsibility to assist
victims in recovering from the physical, financial, and emotional
setbacks that often result from crimes; and

WHEREAS, Several states have already established similar
task forces to address these issues; and

WHEREAS, Such task forces have been effective as sources of
information and support essential to providing quality services
to victims in other states; and

WHEREAS, There is a pressing need to implement a
comprehensive strategy in the State of Maryland to address the
recommendations made by the Federal Task Force on Victims; and

WHEREAS, The Task Force could amend any current versions of
a Victims' Bill of Rights and present a proposal for 1985 which
would eliminate the excessive legislation on the subject proposed
each year; now, therefore, be it