Awards Ceremony
OVC recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services at the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony. The most recent ceremony was held on April 25, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Past awards ceremonies have been presided over by the U.S. Attorney General, and have been attended by hundreds of crime victims and survivors, victim advocates, and allied professionals from around the Nation.
Read the biographies and accomplishments of past recipients to help you prepare your awards nomination(s) for this year.
Award Categories
Allied Professional Award
This award recognizes an individual, team, or program from a specific discipline that works alongside the victim assistance field, including, but not limited to, health care, education, legal, social work, and first responder (e.g., law enforcement, emergency services, firefighters, and rescue professions) communities, for their contributions to the crime victims field or extraordinary acts of valor in support of crime victims. Nominees can include, but are not limited to, teams, programs, and paid or volunteer personnel from state, local, Tribal, and federal government agencies; nonprofit organizations; and institutions of higher education.
- How does the nominee serve victims and contribute to the crime victims field?
- How does the nominee's service to victims enhance or increase collaboration in the nominee's line of work and the crime victims field?
- How has the nominee's service or program affected the community, state, Tribe, or Nation?
- How did the nominee's work or program increase options for victims and survivors of crime?
Building Knowledge Through Research Award
The Building Knowledge Through Research Award recognizes individual researchers or research teams that made a significant contribution to the Nation's understanding of crime victim issues. Building a body of evidence-based knowledge, as well as conducting both qualitative and quantitative studies, helps us better understand victimization trends, services and behaviors, and enforcement efforts. Nominations that feature unique research-practitioner partnerships or innovative dissemination methods are encouraged.
- How did this research impact victim services policies or practices? Provide a citation or link to the research report or study.
- How did the research respond to a critical information need in the field?
- Does the research feature a partnership between a researcher and a practitioner?
- Did the researchers do something extraordinary to translate their findings for the field?
National Crime Victim Service Award
This award honors extraordinary individuals and programs that work on behalf of victims of crime including, but not limited to, service providers, policymakers, and victims’ rights champions. The award recognizes programs and individuals whose work has been particularly noteworthy, and who exemplify the long-term commitment that characterizes many in the victim services field, some of whom are also victims of crime. Nominees can include, but are not limited to, teams, programs, and paid or volunteer personnel from state, local, Tribal, and federal government agencies; nonprofit organizations; and institutions of higher education.
- Describe why the nominee is deserving of this prestigious award.
- What did the nominee accomplish on behalf of crime victims that is particularly noteworthy?
- How does the nominee’s service on behalf of crime victims affect the community or other jurisdictions?
- How do the nominee’s actions influence attitudes, policies, or practices in victim services?
- How did the nominee's work or program expand access to victims' rights and services, or affect the community or other jurisdictions?
- How is the nominee’s demonstrated work extraordinary or innovative?
Survivor Voices Award
This award recognizes crime victims and survivors whose perseverance or determination in the aftermath of a victimization was the catalyst for implementing an innovative program, shifting an existing program in a new direction, or changing policies or practices that prevent survivors from accessing services or pursuing justice.
- What action did the survivor take that was the catalyst for change?
- What was the impact of that action?
Tomorrow's Leader Award
This award seeks to honor and highlight youth up to age 24 who have dedicated their efforts to supporting victims of crime. Whether they have taken a stand against cyber harassment, gun violence, teen dating violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, campus sexual assault, or hate crimes, these young nominees have shown courage and leadership by raising awareness of a problem, highlighting a need for change in policies, and providing direct services for victims.
- How did the nominee's actions and assistance impact the lives of victims, the community, or the victim services field?
- What makes the nominee's accomplishment or contributions to victim services extraordinary?
- Describe how the nominee's efforts resulted in positive and lasting changes in the lives of crime victims.