Special Victim Assistant Receives 2012 Service Award (MD Network Against Domestic Violence Annual Awards Luncheon)

Upper Marlboro, MD… Arelys Rodriquez, a Special Victim Assistant (SVA) in the Office of the Sheriff Domestic Violence Intervention Division (DVID) was awarded the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) Service Award for 2012.  Rodriquez was recognized at MNADV’s annual awards luncheon on Friday, along with other local, state and national organizations who work to advance community response to domestic violence.

“Ms. Rodriguez is compassionate, empathetic and patient when working with victims of domestic violence,” said Bethany Bordeaux, Ms. Rodriquez’s SVA supervisor.  “I have seen the care and concern she shows clients; she is passionate about this work.” 

The MNADV grants the Service Award annually to individuals who “provide direct service or assistance that goes beyond the job description.” Rodriguez who has been with DVID since 2007 is bi-lingual and works out of the Hyattsville Courthouse. She routinely offers assistance to victims navigating court processes, provides court accompaniment to victims, as well as community outreach. “Outreach is a very effective approach to reducing domestic violence.  Making personal contact with victims, families, and friends in the community lets us put very important access and assistance information into the community. Our outreach efforts are successful because they help people and raise awareness; that’s a great benefit to the community” said Rodriguez.  

Sheriff High said. “We are very proud of Ms. Rodriquez and we are lucky to have her. Her skill and compassion are equally important since the contact she has with victims often happens shortly after an incident of violence when they are most fearful and distressed. Her support and direction can be the critical link to resources and information that may help a victim become a survivor and a support to others.”

The Sheriff’s Office SVAs are located within the Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville Courthouses and the Sheriff’s headquarters.

For more information on the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence visit http://mnadv.org/.

For more information contact the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff’s Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-8637.                                                                                                  ###