Joint Base Lewis-McChord Unit Receives Lee Ann Miller Award

Photo By Spc. Preston Robinson | Maj. Brittany Warren from the Special Victims Prosecution Team of the I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Staff Judge Advocate Office speaks to the crowd about her team's experiences in dealing with child abuse cases at the Children's Justice Conference, May 13th, in Seattle, Washington. The team was awarded the Lee Ann Miller Award for their outstanding contribution in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases in Washington State.  

SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES

05.13.2019

Story by Pfc. Preston Robinson 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

For the first time in its 27 year history, the recipient of the Lee Ann Miller Award group award is a military unit. The Special Victims Prosecution (SVP) Team of the I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Staff Judge Advocate Office received the award at the Children’s Justice Conference, May 13, in Seattle, Washington for their outstanding contribution in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases in Washington State.

“It was an incredible honor to be recognized by the Children’s Justice Task Force for the work our team does in protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Maj. Brittany Warren, one of two hand-picked Special Victims Prosecutors, who spoke on behalf of the team when accepting the award.

Warren added the most rewarding part of the team’s job is to “help the most vulnerable members of our community, in a way that treats them with dignity and respect, and maintains the integrity of the criminal justice process.”

None of the members of JBLM’s SVP team knew beforehand that they’d be recognized for their hard work. After the team was presented the award, Monica Ervin, the team’s Special Victims Witness Liaison, said “This award represents the magnitude of the hard work the JBLM SVP team invested in bringing justice for children and victims of crime.”

The SVP team is comprised of two special victims prosecutors, four special victims litigators, one special victims NCO, and a special victims witness liaison.

Despite being the only civilian on the team, Ervin says she always feels, “embraced, respected and accepted. Our SVP’s treat NCO’s the same way they would treat senior level personnel, with dignity and respect.”

The JBLM SVP team has responsibility for cases with special circumstances falling within the Army’s jurisdiction where they cover two Army installations and also service victims worldwide. In one case, the SVP team traveled to Spokane, Washington to work with the Child Advocacy Center to assure justice for a child when the alleged perpetrator was in the military.

Paul Seabaugh, J.D., the Children’s Justice Program Manager and one of two people to nominate the SVP, wrote in the award citation, “the team approaches every case with a single-minded focus, high level of compassion and professionalism.”

Seabaugh has worked with the JBLM SVP team numerous times over the years and says the team consistently attempts to mitigate trauma for the victims of child abuse/neglect cases.

“Simply put, the JBLM SVP team puts the mission of prosecuting those cases first, breaking down barriers to investigation and prosecution in order to provide justice for victims”, said Seabaugh.

Since its inception in 1992, the Lee Ann Miller Award is presented annually to the individual and group who has made the greatest impact in furthering the goals of the Children’s Justice Act of 1986. The act provides grants to states to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.

Lee Ann Miller was the lead counsel for the Washington State Children’s Administration at the time of her death from cancer at age 47 in early 1998. She was a recognized expert in juvenile law and the field of child advocacy. In memory of her professionalism, compassion and captivating presence, the Children’s Justice Task Force presents the Lee Ann Miller Award at the Children’s Justice Conference annually.

• Date Taken: 05.13.2019
• Date Posted: 05.28.2019 19:50
• Story ID: 324218
• Location: SEATTLE, WA, US