Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson knows the importance of victims' rights from personal experience.
Wilson's introduction to the criminal justice system was by means of his sister's death in 1989.
"A lot has changed since 1989 in terms of victim services," he said. "A lot has gotten better ... there's always room for improvements."
The theme for this year's event was "Rights, access, equity, for all victims" and focused on the importance of helping crime survivors find justice through enforcement of victims' rights.
In addition to administering the Missouri Crime Victims' Compensation Program and grant programs provide millions of dollars to support crime victim advocates, domestic violence shelters and to investigate cyber criminals who target children, the Department of Public Safety has taken on three additional grant programs in the last year:
A total of $1.8 million in grants was awarded in September 2021 through the Crimes Against Children/Sex Crimes Grant for hiring additional staff and other expenditures to investigate, prosecute and detect crimes against children.
A total of $500,000 in grants was awarded in November 2021 to nonprofit agencies to help deter crime in economically distressed areas of Missouri.
A total of $2.6 million in grants was awarded in April 2022 through a Victims of Crime Grant to support domestic violence service agencies, child advocacy centers, law enforcement and other service providers.
"Our entire Department of Public Safety team is committed to supporting crime victims, agencies that assist victims, and working to help reduce crime in Missouri," Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. "We regularly find inspiration for our work in the resilience and determination of crime victims and survivors we work with as they carry on in their fight for justice in their case."