(ATLANTA) – The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) recently presented awards for outstanding contributions in the field of victim services. Recipients were recognized at a reception during the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) Annual Conference. CJCC and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office served as local co-hosts for the national conference. These awards were initiated by CJCC four years ago for recipients representing four areas of distinction – Advocacy, Law Enforcement, Prosecution and Volunteerism.
“It is important that we give recognition to the contributions individuals throughout Georgia make everyday in improving the delivery of services to victims. The Eagle Awards serve this essential purpose,” said CJCC Acting Director Dianne Williams.
The Eagle Award recipients included: for Prosecution David McDade, III, District Attorney of the Douglas Judicial Circuit; for Law Enforcement Major Tony Tanner, Waycross Police Department; the award for Advocacy Helen Bradley, Victim Witness Assistance Program, Eastern Judicial Circuit; and the award for volunteerism went to Patti Stafford, Tifton Judicial Circuit Shelter. The Victim Service Awards Steering Committee selected the winners from a pool of nominees.
The Council provides these awards to recognize and distinguish advocates, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and volunteers who have made significant contributions at the local, state, and/or national levels; and to provide a means whereby these contributions can be acknowledged by peers and the community. The recipients were chosen based on the following criteria:
Providing outstanding service within the justice system or the service delivery system in supporting victims of crime; OR Developing, implementing, or significantly enhancing a pilot or model program designed to address victims of crime; OR Making significant contributions in the area of crime prevention; OR Making a significant impact on the manner in which the community, justice system, public agencies, or the service delivery system responds to victims of crime
District Attorney David McDade has been active in protecting the rights of victims since 1990 when he was the Chief Assistant Attorney and Assistant in prior years. He has built a reputation of one who looks after the rights of victims. Mr. McDade has been a board member of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and currently chairs the Legislative Affairs Committee for the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia. The District Attorneys of Georgia have long lobbied the Georgia Legislature for an “equal strikes” law and other changes to the criminal justice system. This year, House Bill 170 and 172 were passed thanks in large part to the tremendous amount of work Mr. McDade dedicated to the effort. He lobbied nearly everyday at the Capitol on behalf of victims of this State, and as a result House Bills 170 and 172 have become law. These Bills allow prosecutors to have equal preemptory jury strikes at trial. Additionally prosecutors will now have the final word in a closing argument. In addition, the restitution statute has been modified and victims are now prioritized.
While Mr. McDade did not accomplish this effort single handedly, he certainly led the effort and put a large amount of his own time and resources into insuring that victims throughout the State of Georgia are treated more equitably than they have been in the past. He stands out in his representation of victims of the Douglas Judicial Circuit, and has personally tried more than 250 felony cases and successfully prosecuted 12 capital cases.
