Yuma marks Crime Victims' Rights Week with survivor support event

Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, sex trafficking and child abuse can turn to Amberly’s Place in Yuma County any hour of the day, any day of the year. That round-the-clock access sat at the center of a Thursday night gathering that marked National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and put the county’s survivor-support network in the spotlight.

The event, held April 23, 2026, focused on honoring victims and the advocates who help people navigate the aftermath of crime. Mark Martinez, chairman of the Victim Rights Committee, said the purpose was to raise awareness of the help available to victims and to remind survivors that they are still supported. Amberly’s Place Executive Director Tori Bourguignon also addressed the gathering, stressing the need to recommit to victim support and honor those who have been lost.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has been observed since 1981, when it grew out of the victims’ rights movement of the 1970s during the Ronald Reagan era. This year’s observance ran April 19-25, 2026, under the theme: “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.” The federal Office for Victims of Crime also provided a 2026 resource guide aimed at helping communities raise awareness of victims’ rights and services throughout the year.

In Yuma County, Amberly’s Place remains the main local anchor for that work. The organization says it is the county’s only advocacy center, and it marked 25 years of service in January 2025, which places its opening in 2000. Its services are available 24/7, 365 days a year, making it one of the few places where survivors can find immediate support without waiting for business hours.

The center’s role is closely tied to law enforcement as well. Yuma Police Department child and family crimes detectives work in close partnership with Amberly’s Place, linking investigative work with victim assistance as cases move through the system. Arizona law also gives victims a strong framework of protections: the state’s Victims’ Bill of Rights guarantees fairness, respect, dignity and freedom from intimidation, harassment or abuse throughout the criminal justice process.

For Yuma County, the message of the week was practical as much as ceremonial. Once police tape comes down, survivors still need help, and the county’s victim-services network is built to make sure they are not left to face the aftermath alone.