Susan W. Clark, Director of the Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim Witness Program, was recently presented with the Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime 2009 Distinguished Service Award.  The award was presented on November 19, 2009 at the 27th Annual Conference on Crime Victims’ Issues by Becky Sirles, President of the Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, Inc.  “This is a very prestigious award, considering nominations are accepted from over 75 victim witness, sexual assault, and domestic violence organizations in Virginia,” said Sirles.  “There were several nominations this year but no one stood out like Susan, especially the contributions she has made towards local and statewide Family Violence Fatality Review,” said Sirles.

Virginia Powell, PhD, Family Violence Surveillance Manager, for the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, selected Clark to serve on two statewide domestic violence fatality review and best practices teams.  In Powell’s nomination of Clark she wrote the following; “Susan is a community leader, she has taken her experience as Director of Victim Witness and used that to do something about violence in her community.  Fatality Review is a powerful tool for identifying gaps and problems and then pointing the way to better coordination, prevention, and intervention.”

Clark has served as an advocate for over 24 years.  She has assisted countless victims and witnesses of crime, including the families of the Virginia Tech victims.  Everyone who comes in contact with Clark is greeted with a warm smile, her undivided attention, and the assurance that she will be there to assist them through some difficult times.
 

Susan Clark

Victim Witness Director