The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”) and the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa will join communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s observance takes place April 23-29 and features the theme, “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”

In the Northern District of Iowa, United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced winners for the following awards based on their service to victims in Iowa:

• The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Sargent Investigator Brent Ostrander from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department. This award is presented to law enforcement officers in Iowa who go beyond the call of duty to help crime victims. It is the highest federal honor in Iowa for victim services by a law enforcement officer. Sgt. Ostrander is recognized for his leadership skills when working with other law enforcement agencies and his compassion and survivor-centered approach when working with crime victims.

Sgt. Ostrander took the initiative to attend college courses on trauma-informed services for victims of sexual assault and was then assigned to investigate all sexual assault allegations in Clayton County. During these investigations, Sgt. Ostrander consistently showed victims great respect and empathy. Sgt. Ostrander took his experience, knowledge and skills and began to train law enforcement in rural areas on how to interview, investigate, and present cases for prosecution. He collaborated with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to implement a Sexual Assault training course. He assisted in creating the Clayton County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a team comprised of numerous law enforcement agencies, the Clayton County Attorney and Clayton County Victim Witness Coordinator. Sgt. Ostrander is a leader, educator and outstanding advocate for men, women, and children devastated by sexual violence.

• The Award for Excellence in Victim Services is presented to Victim Specialist Sherrie Schweder from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Law Enforcement Victim Services Award is presented to Detective Nathan West from the Sioux City Police Department, Special Agent Bradley Colligan from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Deputy Jared Junge from the Dakota County Nebraska Sheriff’s Department. These four individuals were nominated for their outstanding investigative and advocacy work that led to the successful prosecution of Arjune Ahmed.

Arjune Ahmed was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women in Sioux City Iowa. While investigating these crimes, SA Colligan, Investigator West and Dep. Junge discovered five additional victims of attempted kidnapping and sexual assault by this defendant stemming back to 2014. Each of these victims were afraid of the defendant, distrustful of law enforcement, and keen to forget the worst day of their lives. But for the caring, comforting strong and inspirational conduct of Victim Specialist Schweder, the victims would not have cooperated with the government. Ms. Schweder provided varying levels of assistance to each victim, including crisis counseling, court accompaniment, and transportation. This incredible team effort made it possible to remove a serial kidnapper and rapist from the Siouxland area.

Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.

For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2023/overview.

Original source can be found here.