TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Angie McCown Receives National Crime Victim Service Award

Angie McCown, director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division (VSD), has been honored with the prestigious National Crime Victim Service Award. With over 30 years of experience in the victim services field, McCown has made significant contributions to supporting crime victims and enhancing the criminal justice system.

“Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. McCown has greatly impacted the lives of those she serves,” TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier said. “I have had the privilege of working directly with Angie since she began at TDCJ, and I have witnessed firsthand her positive influence on this agency. Her dedication and compassion for crime victims is unmatched.”

Under McCown’s leadership, the TDCJ VSD has implemented a range of innovative strategies and programs to better meet the needs of crime victims. Notable initiatives include a modernized notification and case management system, providing victims with 24/7 access to information and resources through a web-based portal. Additionally, the victim-offender dialogue program has been expanded to include all violent crime-types, and targeted assessment tools have been developed for sexual assault and domestic violence cases. McCown has also established a dedicated section within the division to support agency staff who are assaulted on-duty or respond to critical incidents. Furthermore, the division has expanded notifications to victims through e-mail and text messages.

McCown’s career in victim services began at the Austin Police Department, where she conducted over 400 forensic interviews with child abuse victims and delivered over 100 death notifications. She later became the founding director of victim services at the Texas Department of Public Safety, where she developed a statewide program for victims served by state police and Texas Rangers. McCown’s commitment to supporting victims extended to her role as the Texas Crisis Consortium co-chair, providing crisis response to 15 state-declared disasters.

In addition to her direct work with victims, McCown is dedicated to teaching others how to support victims effectively. She has served on the faculty of the National Victim Assistance Academy and as the lead faculty member of the Texas Victim Assistance Academy. McCown is also a subject matter expert for the National Organization for Victim Assistance. Her extensive experience is reflected in her contributions to various written and training materials, including co-authoring training manuals on topics such as Compassion Fatigue and Response to School Violence.

McCown’s exceptional devotion to the families of fallen officers is evident through her 25 years of assistance to the Concerns of Police Survivors during National Police Week and Survivor Retreats. She has provided counseling at camps and over 175 family retreats, supporting more than 75,000 survivors.

McCown holds a master’s degree in Family Therapy from the University of Houston at Clear Lake and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin.

“I am beyond grateful to have been able to spend my career doing what I am passionate about, assisting those who have been impacted by violent crime so that they may one day find hope and joy in their lives again,” McCowan said. “I am both humbled and honored to be recognized for this work.”

Angela McCown, LMFT | 2024 National Crime Victims' Service Awards (YouTube, 2:45)