The Archdiocese of San Francisco
Office of Human Life and Dignity - Restorative Justice Ministry
One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco CA 94109-6602 • Office and Fax (415) 614-5572
Greetings!
One of the functions of The Archdiocese of San Francisco – Restorative Justice Ministry is to assist families who lost a family member in a murder. We do this year round in support of their loved one killed, within the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s jurisdiction of three counties; Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo county. In 2020 we visited 75 sites where people got killed. See St. Francis Prayer Services video.
In 2018, there were 16,214 murders in the United States. That statistic breaks down to five homicides per 100,000 in population that year. If you divide the total number of murders by 365 days, the number of days in a year, you discover that the U.S. experienced 44.42 murders per day, which means about 44 people were murdered each day in the U.S.
The Gun Violence Archive reported over 17,400 gun deaths and 36,300 gun injuries in 2020 as of December 1.
Every year The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice raises awareness of victims’ rights through a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), established in 1981. The NCVRW 2021 theme is Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities. The 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) is commemorated April 18–24, 2021.
In solidarity of families who have lost a loved one in violence, we ask that you take a moment in silence, light a candle, do a prayer or do something special every day this week to remember families hurt and their loved ones killed.
You might want to read the Catholic Bishops of California Statement in support of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 18-24, 2021.
Action is important
Lastly, you can join Californians for Safety and Justice, a partner organization of the Archdiocese of San Francisco – Restorative Justice Ministry working on policy advocacy, research, alliances, and communications, to advance smart justice strategies that increase public safety and reduce justice system costs.
