Justice Department Honors Former Tribal Judge for 33 Years Serving Victims of Domestic Violence

FORT GIBSON, Okla., April 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice will honor former tribal judge Dianne Barker Harrold for 33 years of dedicated service to tribal victims.  Attorney General Eric Holder will present her with an award during the National Crime Victims' Rights Week awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

"These committed individuals are being honored for their dedication to assisting and supporting victims of crime all across the country," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "Their actions inspire all Americans, to do what we can, each in our own way, to help lessen the physical, emotional and financial impacts of crime on people in our communities."

Harrold, a member of the Cherokee Nation, will receive the National Crime Victim Service Award for her efforts in advancing tribal victim services.  She was the primary founder of Help-in-Crisis, a domestic violence shelter in Tahlequah, Okla., and Outstanding Volunteer of the Year for Help-in-Crisis in 2007.  She served as a tribal judge for 13 Indian tribes and as an associate judge for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. 

In 2010, she led the Homicide in Indian Country video project, which had a significant impact on tribal victims in Oklahoma because the state compensation board changed its policy to allow for spiritual and culturally appropriate responses to victimization by tribes. 

Harrold now travels across the country training tribal prosecutors and law enforcement, victim advocates, child welfare workers and service providers in the areas of child abuse, victim advocacy, domestic violence and sexual assault. 

In addition to Harrold, Attorney General Holder will recognize 12 other individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of crime victims. Descriptive narratives and videos of the contributions of all recipients are available at the Office for Victims of Crime's Gallery: https://ovcncvrw.ncjrs.gov/Awards/AwardGallery/gallerysearch.html.

President Reagan proclaimed the first Victims' Rights Week in 1981, calling for renewed emphasis on, and sensitivity to, the rights of victims.  National Crime Victims' Rights Week will be observed this year from April 21-27.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. For more information about OJP, please visit: www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs