U.S. Attorney to Honor Victims’ Advocates, West Virginia 2023

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will preside over the 2023 Annual Victim Assistance Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the West Virginia State Capitol.

The ceremony is part of Operation Reach Out and follows up on National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change,” which calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and commit to creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.

Several individuals and organizations will be honored for their service, support and advocacy on behalf of crime victims and survivors. The ceremony’s featured speakers include Kanawha County Circuit Judge Tera Salango, whose brother was murdered when she was 16, and Angie Conn, a human trafficking survivor, victim advocate and founder of SheWhoDares Consulting LLC.

Operation Reach Out is sponsored by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of West Virginia in partnership with the Operation Reach Out Committee. Operation Reach Out is a collaborative effort involving local advocacy programs that raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and of the various organizations that provide services to crime victims.

“Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change” is the theme of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and commit to creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.

The ceremony will be held at the West Virginia State Capitol, outside the Senate Chamber. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson will preside over the ceremony, honoring individuals and organizations for their service, support and advocacy on behalf of crime victims and survivors.

Operation Reach Out is a collaborative effort involving local advocacy programs that raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and of the various organizations that provide services to crime victims.

Attendees are invited to join U.S. Attorney Will Thompson and the honored individuals and organizations at the ceremony on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the West Virginia State Capitol.

Related Federal Cases