2026 "Unsung Heroes" Award Nominations
The Office of the Attorney General is pleased to begin accepting nominations for the 2026 Unsung Heroes Awards, an award program which recognizes individuals who provided outstanding services and support to victims of crime in the Commonwealth during the year of 2025. This award is presented annually to individuals who exemplify the promise of the Office of the Attorney General’s commitment to victim services by being the people’s protector. Unsung Heroes have overcome extraordinary challenges or implemented innovative and effective approaches in support of victims of crime. Such accomplishments may be reflected through consistent exemplary performance or through work above and beyond normal job requirements.
Across the Commonwealth, there are individuals who are doing critical, life-saving work on behalf of crime victims, work that often goes unnoticed and unacknowledged. Virginia’s “Unsung Heroes” serve victims in many capacities: as law enforcement officers responding to service calls, as advocates helping victims navigate the court system, as volunteers answering hotline calls, as survivors telling their stories so that others feel less alone, as prosecutors fighting for justice, and more.
Community service providers who demonstrated exceptional excellence in victim services during the year of 2025 may be nominated for this year’s award. If you would like to nominate someone for a 2026 Unsung Hero Award, please complete the nomination form and tell us more about this special person.
The nomination form is attached here. We will begin accepting nominations on Friday Janurary 16, 2026. The deadline to submit completed nomination forms is Monday Feburary 16, 2026. Completed nomination forms should be submitted to the OAG Victim Notification Program at VNP@oag.state.va.us. Award winners will be honored during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in the third week of April (actual date will be provided later) at the Office of the Attorney General located at 202 North 9th Street, Richmond VA 23219.
If you have any questions, please contact Adrian Perry, Director of Victim Services, at (804) 786-5284 or via email at APerry@oag.state.va.us.