Honoring Survivors of Crime and Advancing Their Rights

Join us for NCVRW every April

NOVA observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week during April each year. We offer free webinars and virtual events highlighting survivors of crime and offer opportunities for engagement and connection for those working in the field of victim advocacy, including NOVA’s Annual Virtual 5K

Sign up for email updates to receive info on future observations.

2024 Board Awardees

The National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) Board of Directors annually presents awards to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals and programs in the victims’ movement. Congratulations to these awardees:

Morton Bard Allied Professional Award

Recognizes the contributions of an individual in an “allied” profession such as law enforcement, prosecution, medicine, mental health, the clergy, etc.

Thomas Minch

Disability Rights Maine

Marlene Young Leadership Award

Recognizes outstanding contributions to the victims’ movement by a program manager, state administrator or related professional.

Ali Matheson

Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County

Margery Fry
Award

Recognizes outstanding service as a victim assistance practitioner.

Cindy Kuhr

Ohio Attorney General Bureau of Criminal Investigation

Exceptional Military Victim Advocate Award

Recognizes outstanding contributions by a military victim advocate (active duty, civilian or contractor) to service members and dependents.

Sierra Elliott

1st Special Operations Wing / Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Program

Edith Surgan Victim Activist Award

Awarded to victims or survivors who demonstrate a life of commitment after their victimization to promote rights and services that help change the lives of victims.

Julie & Gary DeVercelly

Activists and producers of the documentary, “We Don’t Haze”

Tadini Bacigalupi Jr.
Award

Awarded to a distinguished victim service program. 

 

What Were You Wearing ?

Sexual and Relationship Violence Center

Honorary Awardees

Morton Bard Allied Professional Award

Chris Humphreys
Cindy Payne
Dr. Amber Deneén Gray
Gary Naranjo
Judy Yates
Katherine Carter
Nicholas Klingerman
Taremoboere “Tare” Brisibe
Trudi Vaughan

Marlene Young Leadership Award

Amber May
Ashley Keaton
Charles Lay
Jessica Pleyel
Jim Pearce
Jordan Kelso
Joseph D White
Kelly Burkes 
Kim Smith
Penny A. Carlson
Rebecca Sustayta
 

Margery Fry Award

Anthony T. George
Dr. Amber Daneén Gray, PhD-c, DBH
Yarimar Soto-Perez
Dr. Tim McGuinness, PHD
Elisa Chaides Reyes
Freda Washington-Perez
Jessica Aguirre
Lauren Weingarten
Scharnelle Hamlin
 
 

Exceptional Military Victim Advocate Award

Alexandria Dukart Anderson 
Andrew J. Kalinen
Anquinette Ferguson
Carly Daniel
Celetia L. Glenn
Colonel Bryan Denny (Ret.)
Cristi Wilson
Heather L. Gordon-Freitag
Jordyn Ridgeway
Neisha Louhar
Rebecca Moore
YN1 Wayne McGonigal
Scott, Carol L. (Tina)
Shady Gutierrez 
SSgt Jordyn Ridgeway
Tashima Martin
Wendy Mulvaney
Yashica Sylvester 
 
 

Edith Surgan Victim Activist Award

Daisy & Charlie Coleman
Dr. Rita Davis-Cannon
Dr. Tim McGuinness Ph.D
Holly Spence
Jessica Nicely 
Kaylyn Ahn
Kimberly Smith
Kirsten Newport
Laura Moseley
Liberty Miller
Lovern Gordon
Tashima Martin

 

Tadini Bacigalupi Jr.
Award

Network for Victim Recovery of DC
Neighborhood Victim Advocacy Program
South Carolina Highway Patrol
Region 10 Education Service Center Crisis Team
The Freedom Train Project Inc.
Victim Assistance Program of Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office
Victim Support Services 
Crime Victim Services at St Peter’s Health Partners 
MMIW Memorial Grove 
Frederick County Sheriff’s Office- Victim Services 
Palm Beach County Victim Services
Hidalgo County Family Violence Task Force
Georgia Office of Victim Services
NSAW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program/U.S. Navy
Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams
Rise Up Rochester
Sexual and Relationship Violence Center

 

Our 2024 observation has concluded.

Thank you to everyone who attended a webinar, shared their #Why, and engaged with us in various ways! We couldn’t do this work without you. 

The 2024 schedule of events and webinar recordings are available below.

NOVA's 2024 NCVRW Observation Details (Events have Passed)

True crime has become so pervasive in pop-culture that it is almost impossible to avoid. The nature of how common it is to talk about crime, has taken on a life on its own, making the public feel as if they are part of these very real, true cases. The question is, how ethical is true crime when these are the stories of real people and real situations? Do the silent victims and their loved ones have a right to privacy? How is the telling and re-telling of these stories impacting the living victims and advocates assisting in these cases? And what can content creators do to ensure their storytelling is ethical?

View Recorded Webinar

CEUs cannot be earned for viewing the recording.

Share your WHY with NOVA on social media! 

@NOVAdvocacy on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn

Netflix’s VICTIM/SUSPECT highlights the alarming issue of young women being arrested for filing a false report after reporting their sexual assault to law enforcement. Join us for a panel with the subjects of the documentary to discuss this systemic issue, opportunities for change, and the role of victim advocacy.

About the film: Victim/Suspect chronicles journalist Rae de Leon’s investigation into a disturbing pattern: young women report sexual assault to the police and instead of the perpetrators being brought to justice, the women are arrested for filing a false report. Working for The Center for Investigative Reporting, de Leon’s exhaustive research uncovers a surprisingly larger number of these cases nationwide. In re-examining elements of the initial law enforcement investigations, de Leon unearths telling recordings of police interviews of victims reporting their sexual assault. Featuring firsthand accounts from numerous young women as well as interviews with police, investigators, and legal experts, Victim/Suspect raises crucial questions about how the criminal justice system views and treats sexual assault victims.

View Recorded Webinar

CEUs cannot be earned for viewing the recording.

The National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) Board of Directors annually presents awards to recognize extraordinary accomplishments of individuals and programs in the victims’ movement.

We are asking our community to think of an advocate or program they believe is making a difference with their phenomenal work and nominate them this NCVRW!

Nominations have closed.

NOVA invites you to join hundreds of advocates, survivors, crisis responders, and community members from all over the world as we walk, run and roll to raise awareness and promote the advancement of rights of crime victims!

This virtual 5k is a personal challenge that you can complete at any location you wish, you can get a group together or participate by yourself.

As NOVA approaches its 50th year, we are investing in the future of advocacy by providing 50 need-based scholarships to new and aspiring victim assistance professionals across the country. By taking part in the Advocacy in Action Virtual 5K, you’ll be supporting this ambitious scholarship program, as NOVA is committing to shaping a more accessible, equitable and inclusive future for the victim assistance movement and our future leaders.

Check out the 2024 NOVA Community Race Page for 5k times, photos & more! 

Thank you to VINE for sponsoring NOVA’s Advocacy in Action 5k!

NOVA's 50 for 50 Campaign

In honor of our 50th Anniversary, NOVA is giving 50 need-based Scholarships to #50FutureAdvocates so they may attend a wide range of professional training programs to begin their victim assistance careers.

We are creating new pathways for aspiring victim assistance professionals and survivor-advocates by removing financial barriers to accessing skill-based trainings. Fund a Future Advocate: Donate Today!

“I love NOVA’s NCVRW events and this year was no different! The speakers and content are all so inspiring and help me improve my response as an advocate.”
– 2023 NCVRW Attendee

Honoring our past, creating hope for our future.

Since 1981, NOVA has promoted and advanced victims’ rights during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Listen to our chat with NOVA founders and leaders in the victim rights’ movement, Dr. Marlene Young and Mr. John Stein, sharing the history of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and their vision for the future of the movement.

More about NOVA’s NCVRW Observation

All of the events and opportunities we offer throughout NCVRW are open for anyone to register and attend.

No. All events and opportunities are free.

Attendees of NOVA’s NCVRW webinars and educational workshops will receive CEUs.

Led by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) has challenged the Nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime since 1981. During NCVRW, we celebrate the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come. Learn more on OVC’s NCVRW webpage.

To ensure that they can participate fully in the criminal justice process, every jurisdiction in the United States gives victims rights in criminal cases. Learn more on our Victims’ Rights and Public Policy page.

Salida de seguridad

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