Environmental Crime Victim Assistance Team | 2022 National Crime Victims' Service Awards

KRIS DIGHE: With every breath that we take, every sip of water that we drink, we all rely upon the environment.

DANIEL DOOHER: There's several statutes in place to protect the environment and to protect human beings.

WOMAN: ...was pulled out of the tank, he was overcome by the fumes inside of the tank.

MICHAEL BURNETT: Environmental crime is the knowing and intentional discharge or release of chemicals.

KRIS DIGHE: …an explosion or a significant massive event like that.

LAURIE DUBRIEL: Often, there are actual individuals who have been directly impacted by these crimes.

JOHN SHARP GREGORY: If environmental crime victims are not identified and notified and provided services, they're going to probably not even realize the harm that has accrued to them through an exposure.

MICHAEL BURNETT: Back in 2016, we realized there was a need for a program.

LAURIE DUBRIEL: Environmental crimes, unlike violent crime or terrorism or cyber crime, is not a crime that most prosecutors prosecute.

DANIEL DOOHER: The purpose of the program is to make sure that environmental crime victims are afforded rights and restitution.

JOHN SHARP GREGORY: We're bringing a more comprehensive approach to our cases and our prosecutions.

KRIS DIGHE: The Environmental Crime Victims' Assistance Program helps victims to find justice in a number of ways.

LAURIE DUBRIEL: …providing them resources, letting them understand what services are available to them. We're providing more information directly when we're going to sentencing.

MICHAEL BURNETT: We created an emergency fund to provide direct assistance for crime victims.

JOHN SHARP GREGORY: We've been able to successfully put up websites at both DOJ and EPA to help environmental crime victims.

KRIS DIGHE: There's continuous training that's available.

DANIEL DOOHER: What we try to do with the program is to help the entire community, one victim at a time.

MICHAEL BURNETT: We've created a Victim Impact Statement for environmental crime victims. We have drafted numerous versions of victim notification letters.

KRIS DIGHE: There are survivors that without support from the Environmental Crime Victim Assistance Program might have felt helpless. Our work for environmental crime victims is not a 9:00-to-5:00 job. It's a commitment that every member of the team has.