About the Crime Victims’ Monument

Only 30 years ago, crime victims had no rights, access to crime victim compensation, or services to help rebuild their lives. They were often excluded from courtrooms, treated as an afterthought by the criminal justice system, and denied an opportunity to speak at sentencing. Yet through decades of advocacy and hard work, we have come a long way. Today, all states have enacted crime victims’ rights laws and established crime victim compensation funds. Californians passed Marsy’s Law in 2008, creating the strongest and most enforceable rights in the nation. More than 10,000 victim service agencies help victims throughout the nation. Every year, states and localities receive millions of federal dollars to support these services.

As we in Orange County, along with communities throughout the country, observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we are reminded that many challenges remain. We face emerging challenges, such as globalization, changing demographics, immigration, human trafficking, terrorism, new types of crime, and the use of technology both to commit and solve crimes. We also confront enduring challenges. Victims’ rights are not universal and often not enforced. Victims do not always receive the dignity and respect they deserve. Victims often absorb the physical, emotional, and financial costs of crime largely by themselves.

Meeting these challenges requires insight, dedication and continued awareness. That is why the County of Orange, the Orange Board of Supervisors, and OC Parks launched a design competition for the monument that garnered national and international participation. Orange County received 59 formal design entries from around the world. All five Supervisors appointed judges to help select the final design created by Jason Zerafa. These judges included crime victims and their families, community leaders/volunteers, and some who are involved with victims’ rights through organizations such as Justice for Homicide Victims, Parents of Murdered Children, and Crime Survivors. The winning design will be inherently egalitarian and human-scale, expressing the cross-cultural and inter-generational impact of crime on members of our community and society.

 

    • The Crime Victims’ Monument will strengthen crime victims by offering victims and the community a place of healing and reflection.

 

    • 212 designers from across the globe registered to participate in the design competition that was judged by a panel of members, selected from each supervisorial district from the Orange County community.  The competition was won by Jason Zerafa.

 

    • Mason Regional Park in Orange County, California will serve as the home for the Crime Victims’ Monument offering an inspiring and tranquil environment that is open for all to share in.

View Monument Details Slideshow

about the crime victims monument

history of the crime victims monument