This year we celebrate the passage of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA). This landmark legislation affirmed the nation’s commitment to restoring the balance of justice by securing legal rights, protections, and services for victims of crime — a commitment that endures and evolves to this day.

The progress from 1984 to the present highlights the creation and growth of national and community victim service organizations, the passage of key federal and state legislation, notable court decisions, groundbreaking reports and studies, and the advances of victim assistance approaches to helping crime victims. It tells the story of our nation’s capacity to help victims rebuild their lives.

These milestones help move our efforts forward during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year.

Key federal victims’ rights legislation in the last 30 years includes:

•  1984- Victims of Crime Act
• 1988-The Drunk Driving Prevention Act (all states raise minimum drinking age to 21)
• 1990- Hate Crimes Statistics Act
• 1992- Kansas is one of only five states to ratify victims’ rights constitutional amendments
• 1994- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• 1996- Community Notification Act (“Megan’s Law”)
• 2003- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
• 2003- PROTECT ACT (“Amber Alert” Law)
• 2006- Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act

In the 30 years since VOCA was enacted, we have much to celebrate and still much to work toward in our struggle for justice.