Stout Award
Presented to Carroll Ann Ellis
March 23, 2006

It is such a great pleasure for me to make this presentation and to describe some of the contributions of the person that the Society has selected to be the first recipient of the award commemorating Ed Stout’s pioneering work on behalf of victims of crime. Carroll Ann Ellis is a wonderful example of Ed’s spirit and commitment. She has been assisting victims of crime for more than 30 years.

She has been present, side by side, with thousands of individuals in the aftermath of a violent crime. Decades ago she was a volunteer assisting victims of domestic violence in Texas – when it was considered a private family matter. She continued her work with victims wherever her husband Claude’s assignments took them in the U.S. and overseas.

For nearly 20 years now she’s worked with the Director of the Fairfax County (Virginia) Police Department’s Victim Assistance Division. As Director she has made it a model police-based victim assistance program. This is no small accomplishment in a police department – she is a very special woman who handles challenges with grace and her wonderful sense of humor. She has trained countless victim advocates from many states, including serving as faculty for the National Victim Assistance Academy from it founding in 1995 and in many of OVC’s training videos. Over the last five years I have had the pleasure of working closely with her as she carried her message around the world – she has provided hundreds of U.S. embassy personnel with training on how to listen to and assist victims overseas.

She has responded to thousands of crime scenes and victims – being there for the victims and survivors – and ensuring that victims are treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity. Most importantly she listens – that is her starting point. She will always tell you that anything she knows about helping victims – she learned from victims.

She is a leader in our field, an admired practitioner, a trainer and a teacher, and an author. She serves as an example to all of us – her work has had a profound impact on so many lives. Ed would be so proud.