Prosecutor honored for victim advocacy efforts

A prosecutor is one of four central Indiana victim service providers to receive a 2016 Voices for Victims award from Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller.

Zoeller announced Monday that Suzanne O’Malley, deputy director of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, was given the award for her efforts toward assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assaults and child victims.

During her time as deputy director of the IPAC, O’Malley has had a hand in Indiana legislation, policy and initiatives to assist victims of violence, according to a release from Zoeller’s office. She also managed a specialized unit in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to prosecute sexual assault predators, and was named Prosecutor of the Year by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 2015. O’Malley is currently the chair of the Domestic Violence and Prevention and Treatment Council and is part of the state’s Sexual Assault Response Team. She also serves on numerous boards related to preventing sexual and domestic violence.

The three other central Indiana award winners were Barbara Bachmeier, a sexual assault nurse examiner and president of the Indiana SANE Nurses’ Association; Cindy Lanane, associate director of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and Sally Lushin, a sexual assault survivor who now advocates for other victims.

“These extraordinary leaders embody the compassionate, selfless and often unnoticed work being done to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” Zoeller said in a statement. “The road to recovery for these individuals is long and difficult. The awards recognize the heroes among us helping victims to navigate the legal system, process trauma and rebuild their lives.”