Awards

As the discipline of crime victim services has grown over the years, so has the number of remarkable individuals and organizations that significantly contribute to its success. Today, the field includes countless people and programs that, through vision, action, and leadership, have improved the lives of victims in the aftermath of crime.

National Crime Victim Service Award

Each year, through the prestigious National Crime Victim Service Award, the U.S. Attorney General and the President honor extraordinary individuals and programs who provide services to victims of crime. OVC, within the U.S. Department of Justice, coordinates the submission of nominations for programs and individuals whose work has been particularly innovative and pioneering and for those who exemplify the long-term commitment that characterizes many of our Nation's victim service providers, some of whom are also victims of crime.

Nomination letters must address the following questions:

• What accomplishments has the nominee made on behalf of crime victims?
• How long has the nominee served victims of crime?
• If the nominee is a paid professional working with crime victims, how do his or her contributions qualify as beyond the call of duty?
• How has the nominee's service or program affected the community or other jurisdictions?
• How have the actions of the nominee influenced attitudes, policies, or practices in victim services?

Back to Top

Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services

The Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services was instituted in 2001 in memory of an OVC employee, Susan Laurence, who helped professionals who had not traditionally served victims to develop effective victim responses. In her honor, this award recognizes a program, organization, or individual who has helped to expand the reach of victims' rights and services.

Nomination letters must address the following questions:

• What accomplishments has the nominee made on behalf of crime victims, and how are those accomplishments unique and original?
• How has the nominee's work brought about change in new or nontraditional areas of victim rights or services?
• How has the nominee's service or program affected the community or other jurisdictions?
• How have the actions of the nominee influenced attitudes, policies, or practices?

Back to Top

Special Courage Award

The Special Courage Award recognizes an individual or individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery in the aftermath of a crime or who have performed a courageous act on behalf of a victim or potential victim. The award may honor a victim or survivor who has exhibited exceptional perseverance or determination in dealing with his or her own victimization, or it may acknowledge an individual who has acted bravely either to aid a victim or to prevent a victimization.

Nomination letters must address the following questions:

• What act of courage has the nominee performed either in the aftermath of his or her own victimization or in coming to the aid of a victim?
• How is this act extraordinary?
• Who are or were the beneficiaries of this courageous act?
• What verification of this act can you provide?

Back to Top

Volunteer for Victims Award

Many of the dedicated men and women who serve crime victims do so without compensation, in addition to their other responsibilities. The Volunteer for Victims Award honors one such individual for his or her selfless efforts to reach out to victims. Examples of volunteerism include but are not limited to crisis counseling, transportation, court accompaniment, food delivery, and emotional and material comfort.

Nomination letters must address the following questions:

• What services has the nominee provided for victims?
• How can the nominee's volunteer contributions to victim services be considered extraordinary?
• How has the nominee's service or program affected the community or other jurisdictions?
• How have the actions of the nominee influenced attitudes, policies, or practices?

Back to Top

Crime Victims Fund Award

Established by the Victims of Crime Act in 1984, the Crime Victims Fund is a source of federal funding for thousands of victim assistance programs across the country and for victim compensation programs in every state. The Crime Victims Fund Award recognizes individuals and teams for their outstanding work in pursuing federal criminal offenders and in imposing and collecting criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalty fees, and special assessments that constitute the Crime Victims Fund.

Nomination letters must address the following questions:

• What innovations in procedures, regulations, or laws has the nominee developed that promote awareness of the objectives of the Crime Victims Fund?
• How have the nominee's aggressive investigation, prosecution, management, and/or collection practices resulted in greater offender accountability?
• Has the nominee undertaken any notable training efforts that promote awareness of the Crime Victims Fund?
• Has the nominee discovered any previously undisclosed assets through innovative or creative investigation?

Back to Top

Federal Service Award

Finally, the Federal Service Award honors individuals for their direct service to victims of federal crime. The award recognizes a service provider's, other professional's, or volunteer's exceptional contributions on behalf of victims in Indian Country, on military installations, in national parks, or in other areas governed by federal jurisdiction.

Nomination letters must address the following questions:

• What extraordinary assistance has the nominee provided for federal crime victims?
• How long has the nominee been serving crime victims?
• How have the nominee's achievements affected his or her community or other jurisdictions?
• What innovative changes in attitudes, policies, or practices has the nominee brought about?
• How can the nominee's contributions be considered beyond the call of duty?
• How effective is the nominee in implementing the provisions of the Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance?

The award winners will be honored at a special ceremony commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week for 2004. Biographies and accomplishments of former award recipients can be found on OVC's Web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw.

Back to Top