Maryland Sheriff’s Office Honored with Crime Victim Services Award

National Sheriffs’ Association recognizes advocates for exemplary service to vulnerable populations

The Harford County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office Victim Services Unit (VSU) has been honored as the National Sheriffs’ Association 2020 Crime Victim Services Award winner. Making up the VSU are Deborah Bradley and Kara Dager, with a combined 30 years of experience in the field of victim advocacy.

The NSA recognized the Harford County Sheriff’s Victim Services Unit for its exemplary work with all victims of crimes or tragedies such as homicide and attempted homicide, rape and attempted rape, sex offenses, unattended deaths, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, home invasions, serious assaults, robbery and attempted robbery, police-involved shootings, overdose deaths, accidental deaths, suicides, abductions and attempted abductions, false imprisonment, hostage situations, fatal motor vehicle crashes, and fatal fires.

In 2019, the Harford County Victim Services Unit received a total of 271 reports and assisted 779 victims of crime or violence, guiding them through the recovery process. The VSU also responded to 59 callouts, providing crisis response to 197 victims, and conducted ten hours of community outreach and 35 hours of instruction. The VSU is available for on-call crisis response services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. Bradley and Dager respond directly to the crime scene or hospital to assist survivors, provide trauma-informed services, and make death notifications.