Crime Victims, Survivors, Good Samaritans and Community Groups To Be Honored at Event Marking National Crime Victims' Rights Week

            WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will pay tribute Monday, April 11, 2016, to over 30 crime victims, their families, witnesses, community groups, and Good Samaritans for their bravery, compassion, and dedication to the pursuit of justice.

            The honorees are to be recognized during a ceremony at 2 p.m. hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, timed with the annual observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, at One Judiciary Square.

            This year’s national theme, “Serving Victims, Building Trust, Restoring Hope,” highlights the importance of early intervention and victim services in establishing trust with victims, which in turn begins to restore their hope for healing and recovery.

            “Day after day, all of us are inspired by the strength, perseverance and courage of the victims and witnesses who come forward in the name of justice and public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Phillips. “We are committed to doing everything we can to help them and their families throughout the criminal justice process. This ceremony is one way that we can show our respect and appreciation for the fortitude they demonstrate in the most challenging of circumstances.”

            In addition to U.S. Attorney Phillips, those scheduled to speak at the ceremony include Sherry Zalika Sykes, whose 22-year-old son, Omar Sykes, was slain on July 4, 2013, in a botched attempted armed robbery in Northwest Washington. Her son was a rising senior at Howard University; his killer is serving a 28 ½-year prison term. Ms. Sykes is a career federal public servant with extensive experience in the non-profit community. She was granted a fellowship in 2014 and 2015 to engage in a year-long program of study, speaking, and teaching about violence, and has spoken to audiences nationwide about its impact.

            Ms. Sykes will be honored at the ceremony, along with other individual victims, survivors and Good Samaritans whose efforts furthered the cause of justice. For example, the honorees include victims and witnesses who came forward after violent crimes; family members of murder victims, who attended weeks of trial; and a couple who intervened to stop a sexual assault, protected the victim until police arrived, and then pointed out the defendant to police.

            The honorees also will include five officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sixth District, who rescued residents from a burning apartment building in Southeast Washington earlier this year, and a U.S. Navy commander who came to the aid of a woman who had just been robbed at the L’Enfant Metro station. The Navy commander confronted the robber and was stabbed in an attempt to apprehend him for police.

            Special recognition will be given to the Children’s Law Center, a non-profit based in the District of Columbia that is now celebrating its 20^th anniversary of helping children and families. The Children’s Law Center is being honored for the assistance that it provided a child in obtaining stable housing as well as emotional support during a trial.

            The event was developed and organized by the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Members of the Unit provide essential services and support to victims and witnesses, such as making referrals for counseling and other services, addressing safety concerns, and accompanying victims to court proceedings.  The Unit also notifies victims of their rights and provides information regarding significant case events, such as the filing of charges, plea hearings, trials and sentencing hearings.

            Additional information about the Victim Witness Assistance Unit is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/victim-witness-assistance

            Further information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is available at http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.

            NOTE:  This event is open to the press. It will take place in the old Council Chambers of the One Judiciary Square Building, 441 Fourth Street NW. All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (such as a driver’s license) as well as valid media credentials.  Media check-in begins at 1:30 p.m. EDT.  Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Bill Miller at 202-252-6643 or James Perez at 202-252-6608.