2026 Victim Rights Awards Nomination Form Survey

The MOVA Victim Rights Awards recognize individuals for their notable contributions to victim rights and services in Massachusetts. If you would like to nominate someone for a Victim Rights Award, please complete the nomination form below. You may fill out multiple submissions. Nominations are due by 5:00PM on Friday, December 19, 2025. Nominate someone you know today!

1.Please indicate the award category for which you are nominating the individual:

Gerald D. Downing Leadership Award
The Gerard D. Downing Leadership Award recognizes a public or private agency leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of crime victims. This individual is recognized by his or her colleagues for their efforts in advancing victim rights.

Access to Justice Award
The Access to Justice Award recognizes a survivor, service provider, agency or organization (criminal legal and/or community-based) whose leadership and outreach efforts have made victim rights and services more accessible or readily available to underserved populations.

Legislator of the Year Award
The Legislator of the Year Award recognizes a legislator who has made outstanding contributions to the victim rights movement through promoting legislation and policy that furthers rights and services to victims and survivors.

Innovation Award
The Innovation Award recognizes an individual survivor, service provider, agency or organization (criminal legal and/or community-based) who has developed an innovative program or policy that help crime victims.

Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award recognizes a survivor of crime who has transformed their experience of victimization into positive change, healing, and leadership through promoting rights and services for victims and survivors.

Advocate of the Year Award
The Advocate of the Year Award recognizes an individual from a criminal legal and/or community-based agency who has made extraordinary contributions to the lives of victims and survivors.

Corporate Leadership Award
The Corporate Leadership Award recognizes a business, organization or individual from a discipline outside of the victim assistance field for their dedication to supporting crime victims and advancing the victim services community. These allied professionals are committed to innovative approaches to ending violence and supporting those impacted by it.

Future Leaders Award
The Future Leaders Award recognizes a student at any level in their education who has dedicated their efforts to victims of crime within their community or statewide. This individual has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and courage through raising awareness, volunteering in the field, or taking a stand to promote change on an issue close to their heart.

Public Policy Award
The Public Policy Advocacy Award recognizes a survivor of crime who has transformed their experience of victimization into impactful change through promoting legislation or advocating for policy changes that further rights and services to fellow victims and survivors.

2.Nominated individual's name(Required.)

3.Nominated individual's organization (if applicable)

4.Nominated individual's title (if applicable)

5.Nominated individual's email(Required.)

6.Your name(Required.)

7.Your organization (optional)

8.Your title (optional)

9.Your email(Required.)

10.Your phone

11.How many years has the nominee been working with or on behalf of survivors?(Required.)

12.Describe the nominee's current role in victim services. Please include a history of their contributions to the field, including any unique and innovative accomplishments.:(Required.)

13.Explain the ways in which the nominee has positively impacted the lives of crime victims and survivors.:(Required.)

14.Please describe the relevance of the nominee's career and/or personal experiences that relate to the specific award category selected for your nomination.:(Required.)

If you have any questions about this form or would like to request a reasonable accomodation related to this document please email mova@mass.gov. All nominators will receive notification after the review period. Awardees will be notified late January or early February 2026.

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