CONYERS, GA— To commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Marsy’s Law for Georgia believed it was fitting to present the Marsy’s Law Champion Award to lifelong victims’ rights advocate Derek Marchman for his 30-plus years of working to advance and support crime victims’ rights in Georgia and the nation. The award has also been awarded to Georgia’s Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan.
Marsy’s Law for Georgia Advisory Board Members Melvin Hewitt, of Isenberg and; Hewitt, and Dr. Tamiko Lowry Pugh (pictured below), victims’ rights advocate presented The Marsy’s Law Champion Award to Marchman. Also in attendance was Kel Marchman, Conyers Mayor Vince Evans, Superior Court Judge Nancy N. Bills, Alice Cintron, and Rockdale District Attorney Alisha Johnson.
Marchman stated that the recognition has truly been a humbling experience. He was also pleased to be able to continue his assistance upon being recently appointed to the Marsy’s Law for Georgia Advisory Board following his Crime Victims’ Rights Award from the U.S. Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April 2022. His career began as a probation officer then moved on to help disseminate and implement Georgia’s Victim Bill of Rights and Family Violence Act during his service with the Georgia Governor’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. He also developed institutional changes as the Director of the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program and conduct innovative training programs for victims’ assistance and investigative techniques for domestic violence and forensic interviewing certifications for child victims. Marchman also headed the assistance efforts for the 1996 Olympic bombing victims for his service was recognized by the State Olympic Law Enforcement Committee.
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.
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