TOPEKA – (April 13, 2018) – Audrey Cress, victim services director for the Kansas Department of Corrections, was recognized for her service to crime victims during this week’s Crime Victims’ Rights Conference in Topeka.

Cress was presented the Outstanding System-Based Victim Advocate Award by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt during an awards ceremony yesterday.

Cress has advocated for crime victims for more than a decade. Since taking her position at KDOC, the department began screening all inmates at intake for prior domestic violence perpetration, with 42 percent of inmates self-identifying as having a history of domestic violence. She continues to work with a collaborative team from across KDOC to update the policy directing management of domestic violence offenders. In addition, she oversees KDOC’s Batterer Intervention Program (BIP), which has grown to the largest BIP in the state, and provides in-facility BIP for the first time in Kansas history.

Training others is another key part of Cress’s contribution to victim services across the state and nation, having facilitated and presented at numerous training seminars and conferences. Cress serves as chair of the Governor’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board and is a member of the attorney general’s BIP Advisory Board, where she serves as chair of the Communications Subcommittee.

The Kansas Crime Victims’ Rights Conference was hosted by Attorney General Schmidt and Governor Jeff Colyer. The conference featured a number of speakers and trainers focused on raising awareness of emerging crimes and offering new approaches to respond to enduring crimes, such as child abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking.

Photo : Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt presented the Outstanding System-Based Victim Advocate Award to Audrey Cress, victim services director for the Kansas Department of Corrections, at the 2018 Crime Victims’ Rights Conference in Topeka. Also pictured is Cress’s father, Michael Cress.