CINCINNATI, OH— Beverly J. Warnock, Executive Director of the National Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) organization, notified Derek Marchman the Board of Trustees had selected him to receive the prestigious “John Gillis Award.” The award recognizes a professional or survivor for lifetime achievement in the fight for the rights and dignity of crime victims and survivors of homicide victims. The POMC will present the award at their National Conference in Atlanta on July 22.
The POMC provides ongoing emotional support to help parents and other survivors facilitate the reconstruction of a “new life” and to promote a healthy resolution. Not only does POMC help survivors deal with their acute grief, but it also helps with the criminal justice system.
In addition, the POMC provides training to professionals in such fields as law enforcement, mental health, social work, community services, law, criminal justice, medicine, education, religion, the media, and mortuary science who are interested in learning more about survivors of homicide victims and the aftermath of murder.
The POMC will host its 37th Annual Parents of Murdered Children National Conference in Atlanta on July 20 – 23, 2023.
President George W. Bush nominated John W. Gillis in September 200 as the National Director of the Office for Victims of Crime, U. S. Department of Justice. In this capacity, Director Gillis oversaw priority initiatives, including International Terrorism and Victim Assistance, Human Trafficking, and the Crime Victims’ Fund.
Before the DOJ appointment, Gillis served as the chair of the California Board of Prison Terms and was with the Los Angeles Police Department retiring in 1988 after twenty-six years of service, retiring with the rank of Assistant Commanding Officer, Communications Division.
Following the 1979 murder of his daughter Louarna, Gillis became a founding member of Justice for Homicide Victims (JHV) and the Coalition of Victims Equal Rights. This statewide organization worked for the rights of victims and their families.
President George H. W. Bush presented Gillis in 1991 with the National Crime Victim Service Award for helping crime victims. In 1993, former U. S. Attorney General William P. Barr recognized Gillis’ crime victim service with a Special Commendation Award.
Gillis served four years as a member of the California State Bar Association’s Crime Victims and Corrections Committee and four years on the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Victim Committee. In addition, Gillis is a founding member of the “Council on Crime in America,” formed in 1994. Former U.S. Attorney Griffin Bell and former U.S. Education Secretary & Drug Czar William J. Bennett co-chaired the 11-member Council.
A notable quote by Gillis on the treatment of victims is, “Too often, our system fails to inform victims about proceedings involving bail and pleas and sentencing and even about the trials themselves. Too often, the process fails to take the safety of victims into account when deciding whether to release dangerous offenders. Too often, the financial losses of victims are ignored. And too often, victims are not allowed to address the court at sentencing and explain their suffering or even to be present in the courtroom where their victimizers are being tried. When our criminal justice system treats victims as irrelevant bystanders, they are victimized for a second time.”
It was a humbling experience for Marchman upon learning of the recognition. “It is an honor to receive the award from an organization containing some of the country’s most ardent victim advocates and survivors.” However, he was also incredibly proud to receive an award named in honor of John Gillis, especially after winning the same award as Gillis when Marchman was named the 2022 National Crime Victims’ Rights Award. Marchman reflected upon a time in the 1990s when he sent a letter to Gillis when he was serving as the OVC Director seeking some direction, and Gillis responded most graciously with sage advice. Marchman stated, “I have utilized pieces of the guidance Director Gillis offered over the last two decades.”
Marchman Consulting helps communities make an impact with data analysis, grant development, implementation, and evaluation for sustainability efforts for a variety of programs. An example is the alcohol risk management (ARM) measures, such as Marchman’s award-winning RASS training program. Validation of his success, Marchman was the recipient of the Office of Victims of Crime 2022 Victims’ Rights Award presented by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Washington Mall. More information of his services is available at www.marchmanconsulting.com.
