CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The people who work directly with crime victims in West Virginia are being recognized during this National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
On Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia hosted an opening ceremony at the Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse in Charleston.
Among the attendees were crime victims along with officials who’ve worked in the criminal justice system, other agencies and organizations providing services to crime victims.
The event included the presentation of the Excellence in Victim Advocacy and Justice Awards which went to Cpl. Anthony Craigo with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Sarah Kingston, certified victim advocate for the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department.
Joyce Richmond, a survivor of domestic violence, also received the 2017 Special Courage Award.
Richmond was beaten for hours in June 2011 by her husband who she was in the process of divorcing. Craigo and Kingston were involved in her case.
Kingston, Craigo and Richmond participated in a domestic violence response training video the International Association of Chiefs of Police released.
NOTE: GRAPHIC IMAGES ARE INCLUDED IN THE VIDEO.
Monday’s ceremony was the 17th Annual Operation Reach Out event.
Operation Reach Out is a collaborative group of federal, state and local agencies and organizations working to raise awareness about the rights, protections and services available to crime victims in West Virginia.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week runs through Apr. 8.