DA’s Office Celebrates 10 Years as  “A Voice for Victims”
Awards Program Salutes Those Who Help Crime Victims—The Nikki Blanton Good Samaritan Award Inaugurated

DA Howard and District 3 Commissioner Riley salute Fulton County law enforcement heroes

           It was District Attorney Paul Howard’s prosecution of a case as a young assistant district attorney in 1982 that ignited his fierce advocacy of victims’ rights.  A young mother had been murdered by her ex-boyfriend after years of being abused and stalked by him.  Throughout the horrible ordeal, the victim pleaded for assistance.  But in those days, domestic violence was treated more as a personal matter.  Mr. Howard says he thought to himself, “If just one social service agency had given this woman the help she needed, she would be alive today.”  He vowed to make changes if ever in a position to do so. 

October—National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

          To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the “A Voice for Victims” Awards program, DA Howard invited nationally acclaimed author Atlanta Nea Anna Simone, a domestic violence survivor, to deliver the keynote speech.  In her semi-autobiographical novels, Reaching BACK and ReBorn, and in her remarks, Ms. Simone recounts her road to recovery from years of abuse and offers encouragement to other women in abusive relationships.
          Other special guests contributing to the program were the North Atlanta High School Color Guard, the Inman Middle School Choir, Dr. Toussaint K. Hill, Jr., pastor of West Hunter Street Baptist Church and Rabbi Scott Saulson of Congregation Shema Yisrael. 

DA and District 3 Commissioner Lynne Riley Salute Officers’ Bravery

Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy Corey Henry was among 12 law enforcement officers who were presented awards by DA Howard and Fulton County Board of Commission member Lynne Riley of District 3.  Deputy Cory was praised for his off-duty capture of an armed bank robbery suspect in Coweta County while on his way to work.  The other officers received their awards after having been chosen “Officer of the Year” by their respective police agencies.  
          Two members of the District Attorney’s staff, Antoinette Beyah and Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Brad Malkin, head of the White Collar Crime Unit, received special recognition for their outstanding work on behalf of crime victims.       

Youngsters “Steal” the Show

The 2007 “A Voice for Victims” Awards program saluted the heroic actions of several metro Atlanta youngsters who saved the lives people in danger:  

• Third-grader Tiannah Harrison saved her mother from a drug-crazed border living in their home.  He stabbed the woman 18 times as she lay sleeping on the living room sofa before Tiannah hit him and chased him away.
• 12-year-old, 6th grader Lester Knauls prevented his 5th grade teacher from choking during lunch by using the Heimlich maneuver—which he’d only seen demonstrated.  Thurgood Marshall Elementary School teacher Shirley Hines praised Lester as her hero during the awards ceremony.
• Forsyth County 9th graders Hunter Allen, Thomas McHugh and Michael Reynolds and 12-year-olds Rachel Burns and Allison Dawson rescued a woman trapped along the Chattahoochee in a rubber tube.  Michael and Thomas were able to attend the program to receive their awards.

Sharing the civilian “A Voice for Victims” Awards with the young heroes was 29-year-old Adrian McCormick of Decatur, Georgia.  With flames roaring through an apartment building, McCormick single-handedly caught three members of one family from one of the third floor units.  Adolph Cobb tossed down his 2-year-old daughter, then his 7-year-old son and finally leapt to safety himself.  McCormick caught the two children and broke Cobb’s fall. 

The Andrea “Nikki” Blanton Good Samaritan Award

Last year, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office presented an “A Voice for Victims” award to a young couple who had been struck by a car after stopping to pull a motorist from an overturned vehicle on an interstate ramp.  Andrea “Nikki” Blanton and Brian Crowl were both injured in the January 2006 accident, but Nikki endured numerous surgeries from which she never quite recovered.  Shortly after their engagement in January of 2007, Nikki died of complications from the injuries she sustained saving a man’s life. 
          Nikki’s determination to overcome her ordeal was such an inspiration that District Attorney Howard dedicated a Good Samaritan Award in her honor.  Nikki’s mother, grandmother and aunt were presented with the inaugural award at the ceremony.  In years to come, civilians who go above and beyond the expected to assist others will receive the Andrea “Nikki” Blanton Good Samaritan Award from the Fulton District Attorney’s Office. 

History of the Awards Program            

Upon assuming office in 1997, one of the first units Mr. Howard created in a massive reorganization of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office was the Crimes Against Women and Children Unit, affectionately called C-WAC by the staff.  C-WAC screens and exclusively prosecutes cases involving sex offenses, domestic violence and all crimes against children.  Since its inception in 1998, the conviction rate for such crimes in Fulton County has number of cases prosecuted has increased, the conviction rate has more than trebled to 88% and the duration of prison sentences has more than doubled.

          Georgia’s Victims Bill of Rights” requires all of the prosecutors in the state to provide basic services to victims.  But District Attorney Howard has taken the mandate further, creating the Victim-Witness Assistance Program, V-WAP.  Staffed by some 20 professional advocates, counselors and support personnel, V-WAP routinely provides services to over three-thousand victims each year.  The staff keeps victims and witnesses apprised of the status of their cases and attends hearings and trials as needed, provides referrals, transportation and home visits and assists them in securing compensation if they are eligible.  The “A Voice for Victims” Awards program evolved from the District Attorney’s desire to encourage awareness of the need to help others by paying tribute to those who act boldly and courageously on behalf of victims.