I want to take a moment to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and reaffirm the commitment my office makes to the victims of crime and to the principles of justice, healing, and support. This week is a reminder that behind every case, every statistic, there are real people, victims and their families, friends and entire communities whose lives have been devastated and forever impacted by crime.

It is an honor to serve as the Pinal County Attorney. My office is dedicated to ensuring that victims are heard, respected, and supported throughout the legal process. The victim advocates in my office and community partners work to provide resources, protect rights, and promote a system where victims are not just witnesses, but essential voices in the pursuit of justice. To further demonstrate my commitment to victims, one of the first endeavors upon taking office, was to create a Special Victims Unit. This is a specialized unit dedicated to handling sex crimes and family violence cases.

As public servants, we have a responsibility to ensure the voices of crime victims are not only heard, but protected by the laws in which we are governed. My office fully supports legislative efforts, new and amended legislation, which enhances protections for victims of crime. At the Pinal County Attorney's Office, we will work tirelessly to build a system where victims are fully informed, meaningfully involved, and supported at every stage, from investigation to prosecution to sentencing and beyond.

The theme this year for crime victim's rights week is kinship: connecting and healing, which speaks directly to a more human and personal approach to victims’ rights and support. At the Pinal County Attorney's Office, I am proud of my staff and the work they do everyday. It is an honor to serve crime victims and my office will lead across the state to ensure justice includes compassion and accountability in a system victims of crime did not ask to be a part of.