Dr. John P. Dussich, Fresno State professor emeritus of criminology, received the prestigious Ronald Wilson Reagan Public Policy Award at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards ceremony this week in Washington, D.C. for his work in victimology and victim services.
Dussich created the victim advocate concept, establishing the first such program in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1974. He is the founder of the National Organization for Victim Assistance, which he launched in Fresno in 1976.
The presentation was made as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – the annual observance to promote victims’ rights and honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. At the April 12 ceremony Attorney General Loretta Lynch honored nine individuals, programs, teams and organizations that provide services to victims of crime.
The awards are presented by the Office for Victims of Crime to recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services. The award recipients are selected from public nominations in 11 categories.
“I have worked with Dr. Dussich for more than seven years as a colleague and his commitment to victim services throughout his career make him well qualified for this award,” said Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi, associate professor of criminology who nominated Dussich for the award. “His contribution and efforts to victims’ rights, education and advocacy are admirable.”
Dussich, who joined the Fresno State faculty in 2003, is the founding secretary general of the World Society of Victimology, which was launched in Munster, Germany in 1979. He served as its president from 2006 to 2009. He was also instrumental in the founding of the American Society of Victimology.
Dussich has taught, conducted research and provided victim services in Germany, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Israel, Sudan, Indonesia, Japan, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Taiwan, India, Nepal and China.
In 1993 he was invited to Japan to teach victimology at Tokiwa University, the center for victimological studies in Asia. He conceived of and launched the Mito Victim Support Center. With the support of Tokiwa University he created the Tokiwa International Victimology Institute in October 2003, serving as its director until 2014.
Dussich also has been involved in the UN Liaison Committee at the World Society of Victimology and has made significant efforts to implement the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power and related UN instruments concerning victims through the activities of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
He retired from Fresno State and became professor emeritus in May 2011 but has been in the Faculty Early Retirement Program since August 2011. He completes his FERP period in May.
Related links:
- View a recording of the2016 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony.
- Attorney General Loretta Lynch speaks at the National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony.
- Karol Mason, Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs, addresses the audience during the annual ceremony.
- OVC Award Recipient Gallery.
- OVC Event Photos—a series of photos from the April 12th event will be posted online as soon as they become available.
