Director of the Victim Witness Assistance Program at
the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office to receive award
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin will recognize Jennifer Dunn, the longtime director of the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Assistance Program with its Champion of Crime Victims' Rights Award this week. The Champion Award honors professionals who have worked to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of victims' rights in the criminal justice process, including Wisconsin’s crime victims’ rights constitutional amendment known as Marsy’s Law.
Dunn has been a zealous advocate for survivors of crime for the entirety of her career. After graduating law school, she worked as a legal advocate for domestic violence victims in Washington County, where she cofounded the county’s first domestic violence Coordinated Community Response team. Since 1997, Dunn has led the Waukesha County Victim Witness Assistance Program. In that capacity, she has implemented multiple measures to assist crime victims including expanding the part-time crisis response team into a 24-hour program, establishing a Restitution Specialist to assist victims with financial recovery, and creating a comfort dog program. Pepper, the Courthouse Facility Dog, provides support for children and adults through the court process.
Dunn has been integral in ensuring the Waukesha community is informed and their rights protected during ongoing and future crime incidents. She guided the county through the implementation of Marsy’s Law, ensuring the new rights are put into practice. She has responded to several mass violence incidents, including the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy, and has testified and proposed legislation on victim privacy, restitution, and access. Dunn has also written curriculum that is used in statewide victim services education and teaches at the Waukesha County Technical College Law Enforcement Academy. Beyond her community, she has secured funding for technical assistance available to every victim witness program in Wisconsin. Dunn’s good work earned her the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Crime Victims' Service Award in 2021.
“In a profession full of amazing people doing incredible work, Jennifer Dunn is truly the gold standard for victim witness advocates in the state of Wisconsin. Jen has demonstrated unapparelled compassion and commitment to ensuring every crime victim in Waukesha County and the entire state are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and Marsy’s Law requires. Her efforts have positively impacted countless survivors, helping them on the road to recovery. Jen is truly a Champion of Crime Victims’ Rights and we are all fortunate she calls Wisconsin home,” said Nela Kalpic, state director for Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin.
The event will be at 11:00 a.m., Oct. 23, at the Waukesha County Courthouse, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha. The event will be held in the District Attorney’s Office, Room 2-0700. The event will also be livestreamed on the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin Facebook page.
Media Note: For media who wish to schedule an interview with a representative from Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin or receive additional information, please contact Madelyn Hughes at mh@platform-communications.com.