Washington County community members walk to raise awareness for crime victims' rights

About 60 people walked through the downtown Hagerstown area on Friday to raise awareness for crime victims' rights.

The walk was part of a variety of events held to recognize National Crime Victims' Rights Week, which was April 21-27.

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Washington County State's Attorney Gina Cirincion, before the start of the walk outside the Hagerstown Police Department headquarters, thanked participants for showing support for crime victims who have lost their lives and surviving victims as well as the family members of crime victims.

Participants walked down Franklin Street, through Public Square and back up Washington Street.

The walk was sponsored by the local states attorney's office in partnership with Hagerstown Police.

Among those walking were local residents as well as police, prosecutors and victim/witness support employees from the states attorney's office.

Erin Hershey with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, which works with victims through the states attorney's office, brought two dogs with her. Those were Abby, a 10-year-old Portuguese water dog who is a trained therapy dog, and Greta, a 2-year-old German shorthaired pointer who is in training as a therapy dog.

Among the ways therapy dogs comfort victims and witnesses is to lie on the witness stand floor, often by a sitting Hershey and out of sight from jurors, to provide comfort to those testifying.

Several walkers dressed in colors or used colors on posters that represent victims of various types of crimes. Those included purple for domestic violence, teal for sexual assault, blue for child abuse, white for stalking, silver for elder abuse, black for overdoses, orange for gun violence and red for homicide. There also was a color — green — representing mental health, which is often a factor in criminal cases.

Various officials who went "above and beyond" to assist victims or cases also were recognized during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, said Jill Ritter, victim/witness coordinator for the local states attorney's office.

A memorial service for crime victims and their families, for Maryland's Western Region, was held April 21 in the Sykesville area in Carroll County, Md.