Gloucester Township Woman Among Three to be Recognized in Fight for Victims' Rights

A Gloucester Township woman is among three South Jersey women who will receive the first-ever Office of Attorney General Excellence Awards for Victims’ Justice at a statewide program celebrating Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced on Monday.

Kathy Friess, of Gloucester Township, will receive the Crime Victims’ Rights Award. The award honors the dedicated advocate(s) and/or agency that have engaged in extraordinary efforts to assist trafficking victims and to educate the public in this modern day slavery. 

Friess is the Human Trafficking Program Coordinator for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.

“Kathy’s work ethic, combined with her compassion and patience, makes her a role model to employees at the Division of Criminal Justice,” Division of Criminal Justice Director Elie Honig said.  “Kathy works tirelessly to promote the goals of preventing human trafficking and I believe she embodies the true meaning of an advocate.”

Friess was nominated by State Victim Witness Coordinator Melissa Miller.

“Kathy Friess has been dedicated to educating and training advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors so they may, in turn, identify human trafficking victims and provide victims with applicable services,” Miller wrote in nominating Friess. “Kathy played a huge role in setting up the Say Something Assemblies, which were 3-D presentations in middle schools and high schools that traveled up and down the state of New Jersey in the weeks prior to the Super Bowl.”

Linda Burkett, of Cherry Hill, and Barbara Carter, of West Deptford, will each receive the Endurance Award, which honors Victim-Witness Office Coordinators and staff who consistently set the standards for excellence in going above and beyond to assist the victim and the prosecuting team.

Burkett, Carter and Friess will join two men from northern New Jersey in being honored at the Crime Victims’ Rights Week event on Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton. 

The program is held annually to reaffirm New Jersey’s commitment to enforce victims’ rights and address their needs.  The event is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, the Victims of Crime Compensation Office and the State Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act, which changed the landscape of victim rights and services nationwide,” Hoffman said.  “Through their relentless efforts, the women being honored at this week’s ceremony change the landscape every day within their own communities and throughout New Jersey.”

"These deserving award winners simply do it all: from providing a helping hand at all hours of the day or night, to making sure children have something to open on Christmas, to spreading the word about the dangers of child exploitation and human trafficking," Honig said. "All of today's winners stand as pillars of strength for countless crime victims."