MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Forensic nurse examiners across New Jersey, including personnel from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, were recognized with the VIVA Above and Beyond Award during the state’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week event.
The ceremony, hosted by the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance and the Division of Criminal Justice, was held April 20 at the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton.
State officials selected New Jersey’s forensic nurses for their work supporting Sexual Assault Response Team and BREATHE activations in recent years. The award honors individuals or organizations that go beyond their duties to assist victims, families and communities impacted by violence or trauma.
In Morris County, forensic nurse examiners provide around-the-clock services to victims of sexual assault through an on-call system. The team is led by SART and Forensic Nurse Examiner Coordinator Alexis Rachel, who has served in the role for nearly a decade.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll said, “Forensic Nurse Examiners play a vital role in bridging healthcare and the criminal justice system, and serve victims during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I’m proud of the work Coordinator Alexis Rachel and her team do in Morris County, and the compassion and support they provide.”\
