The 61-member Congressional Victim Rights Caucus awarded David Voth of Bluffton, the 2010 Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy. He received the honor at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Awards are selected from across the nation, and honorees must be nominated by their Congressional representative. A summary of the nomination presented by Congressman Jim Jordan, Ohio 4th District, reads:

David Voth has served as the Director of Crime Victim Services (Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio) since 1985. He is recognized as an outstanding advocate for victims of crime, and also for his unique expertise in the justice technology that enhances victim services.

David is a founding member of the Board of the National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network, which seeks to promote victims' rights across the nation.

He recently authored the book, Quality Victim Advocacy: A Field Guide, which aims to simplify program planning and evaluation for victim assistance programs. The book has become a "must read" for victim advocates everywhere.

The bipartisan Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus was formed to be a voice for victims' rights in Congress and before the Administration.

The Caucus has three main goals:

1 - To represent crime victims in the United States through the bipartisan introduction of legislation that reflects their interests, rights, and needs.

2 - To provide an ongoing forum for dialogue between Congress and national victim assistance organizations to enhance mutual education, legislative advocacy and initiatives that promote justice for all, including crime victims.

3 - To seek opportunities for public education initiatives to help the nation understand the impact of crime on victims, and to encourage their involvement in crime prevention, victim assistance, and community safety.

Photos are available at the Congressional Victim Rights Caucus web site: http://vrc.poe.house.gov