Crime Victim Support College Volunteer

Crime Victim Support University Volunteer

The Akita Prefectural Police supports victims throughout the region and promotes urban development in which there are no victims or perpetrators.
This project aims to recruit volunteers from university students who will play a leading role in society in the future. The aim is to foster a sense of consideration and support for crime victims in the entire community.

○ November 26, 2020 Crime Victims Week "Prefectural Gathering"

On November 26th, during Crime Victims Week, a "prefectural gathering" was held at the Akita base center ALVE. Victim support university student volunteers were also involved in the operation of the "prefectural gathering".
The "prefectural gathering" is held by Akita Prefecture every year to provide an opportunity for the citizens of the prefecture to think about support for victims. This year, children and students who attended lectures at elementary, junior high, high schools, and special needs schools in the prefecture gave lectures on the importance of life, where bereaved family members of victims gave lectures. A lecture was given by the bereaved families of related crime victims, and a mini-concert was held by the Akita Prefectural Police Band.

Until the "Prefectural Citizens' Gathering" began, the university student volunteers set up the venue, set up the exhibits, and guided the readers and their families. In order to catch the eyes of passers-by, the exhibition was carefully installed while checking the balance and decorations.
When the “Citizens Gathering” started and the children and students started reading letters, the university student volunteers introduced the lecturers of the “The Importance of Life Classroom” on the stage and gave a speech to the students who could not participate in the reading. We performed reading of letter, instruction of child, student. There were about 120 people in the audience, so they seemed nervous during the performance, but thanks to their hard work and practice during rehearsals and breaks, the visitors were able to see crime victims and students. I was able to convey my thoughts.
After the reading of the letter, the students listened to a lecture by Mr. Minoru Kariya, a bereaved family member of Aum Shinrikyo-related crime victims, and deepened their understanding of the current situation and feelings of the victims.
At the final mini-concert by the Akita Prefectural Police Band, Yo Hitoto's song "Hanamizuki" and a historical drama medley were performed. After completing the big stage, the university student volunteers were released from tension and listened to the performance in a relaxed manner.

Despite the lengthy schedule, the Prefectural Gathering turned out to be a very good event thanks to all the university student volunteers who played an active role in both the preparation and the actual event. I'm really thankful to you.
The 5th year of Reiwa “Prefectural Gathering” is scheduled to be held on November 25th. If you were unable to attend this year, please join us next year. We look forward to!

～What is Crime Victims Week?～
With the enactment of the Crime Victims Basic Act on December 1, 2004, the period from November 25 to December 1, one week before the enactment date, is designated as Crime Victims Week. Publicity and enlightenment activities are held throughout the country during this week, and Akita Prefecture holds a "prefectural gathering" on Saturdays during the week.

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○ October 19, 2020 2nd workshop

Together with the Citizens' Affairs Division of Akita Prefecture and the Akita Victim Support Center (Public Corporation), we created a goldfish amulet.
The goldfish amulet was created by a woman living in Akita who lost her son, who was a university student at the time, in a traffic accident, wishing for a society without accidents and where life is valued. Since 2016, we have been working with university student volunteers to support crime victims.
When I introduced the reason why I started making "goldfish charms" and the thoughts I put into the charms, everyone who participated in the workshop seriously made the charms so that they could be of some help to the victims. Everyone who participated seemed to be silently concentrating on making the amulet while consulting with others.
Because it is all handmade, each goldfish is born with individuality such as expression and size depending on the creator. In the future, we will distribute it at events related to victim support, so if you see us distributing it, please receive the only goldfish in the world. Also, I would appreciate it if you could think about a society that does not give birth to victims of traffic accidents or crimes.

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○ August 8, 2020 1st workshop

・We visited the Akita Victim Support Center (public corporation) and received an explanation of its activities and consultation system.
・We watched the movie "Wind from 0 (Zero)" and exchanged opinions about what we thought of the movie and what we wanted to say to the victims.

~ What is the movie "Wind from 0 (Zero)" ~
Based on the true story of a mother whose son was stolen by a runaway car with no license and no insurance. It's a movie made.
It was released in 2007, with Yoshiko Tanaka playing the role of the mother and Taiyo Sugiura playing the role of the son.

～What is “Message of Life Exhibition”～
An art exhibition featuring victims who have been unreasonably deprived of their lives due to crimes, accidents, medical malpractice, and binge drinking.
A life-size human-shaped panel (messenger) of the victim is pasted with a photo of the victim and the words of the family on the chest, and shoes are placed at the feet as "proof of living" to appeal the importance of life. .

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○ July 20, 2020 Attending a lecture by a crime victim

I attended a lecture by a crime victim at the prefectural-sponsored "Training Workshop for Persons in Charge of Comprehensive Response to Support for Crime Victims."
This workshop is held every year for victims support contact persons at municipalities and police stations in Akita Prefecture. Since 2021, university student volunteers supporting crime victims have also participated and listened to lectures.
Partly because it was a rare opportunity to listen directly to a lecture by a crime victim, the participating university student volunteers seemed to be listening intently.
From the university student volunteers who attended the lecture,
"I would like to respect the other person's thoughts, consider and be able to choose words based on my imagination, and interact with them."
"I wondered what I could do to help the victims, who continue to have a difficult time even after being victimized."
I heard the impression.

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○ June 30, 2020 “Day to think about crime damage” enlightenment campaign

In order to widely inform citizens of the "day to think about crime damage", we carried out a street campaign on "Popo Road", a free passage between east and west of Akita Station.
Together with supporters from the Akita Victim Support Center, we distributed publicity and enlightenment materials and called for a day to think about crime victims.

～What is “Day to Think about Crime Victims”～
The "Akita Prefecture Crime Victim Support Ordinance" stipulates June 30 as "the day to think about crime victims."
Every year on June 30th, a campaign is held on the streets to make the citizens of the prefecture aware of "the day to think about crime victims" and to deepen their understanding of crime victims. Why don't you think about crime damage together with everyone who is looking at this page?

～Caps worn by university student volunteers～
University student volunteers wear pure white caps, vests, and jumpers to indicate that they are university student volunteers supporting crime victims, and carry out activities such as street campaigns.

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○ June 1, 2020 Registration ceremony

In 2022, 11 university students in the prefecture were registered as university student volunteers for supporting crime victims.
At the registration ceremony, each person's name was called, and although the university student volunteers seemed nervous, they responded in a loud voice. One representative received a registration form from the head of the headquarters, and another representative made a vow.
After the registration ceremony, they introduced themselves one by one and talked about their motivation to work as university student volunteers.
The 11 registered people will carry out publicity and enlightenment activities related to crime victim support until March 2023.