Merrick Garland, Recognizes Crime Victims Advocates, District of Columbia 2022

Crime victims’ rights have been at the forefront of the nation’s agenda for decades, but it’s the tireless efforts of advocates like those recognized by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland that have made justice a reality for countless survivors.

The annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony, held on [date], honored 14 individuals and organizations for their unwavering dedication to securing the rights, access, and equal justice that all survivors deserve.

"Empowering and encouraging people who have been victimized to participate in our legal system is essential to justice," said Attorney General Garland. "For the past 41 years, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has recognized the challenges, struggles, and achievements of crime victims and victim advocates in their efforts to secure the rights, access, and equal justice that all survivors deserve."

The awardees were selected from public nominations in multiple categories, including federal service, public policy, victim services, and a Special Courage award. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which takes place from April 24-30.

The event marks the 40th anniversary of the President’s Task Force on Victims of Crime and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the first three victim assistance organizations. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, placing crime victims’ rights, needs, and concerns in prominence on the American agenda.

The 41 recipients of the 2022 NCVRW awards include:

Deborah Flowers and Dr. Linda Laras, recipients of the Allied Professional Award, which recognizes individuals working outside the victim assistance field for their service to victims.
Barrier Free Living and the LGBTQ+ Victim Advocacy Initiative at Eskenazi Health, recipients of the Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services, which recognizes a program, organization, or individual who expands the reach of victims’ rights and services.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit and Financial Litigation Program in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, recipient of the Financial Restoration Award, which recognizes individuals, programs, organizations, or teams that have instituted innovative approaches for securing financial restoration for crime victims.
Various researchers and teams, recipients of the Victims Research Award, which recognizes individual researchers or research teams who made a significant contribution to the field of victims’ rights and services.

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