Cathy Black, deputy commonwealth’s attorney for Williamsburg and James City County, has been selected to receive the 2012 National Traffic Safety Prosecutor Award from the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators (NAPC).
The award, given jointly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is presented to a prosecutor “whose record demonstrates extraordinary efforts to save lives on the nation’s highways through innovative legal approaches, work on high profile or complicated legal cases, dedication to training, legislative efforts and dedication to victim advocacy,” according to a press release.
Black has worked with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office in various positions since 1993, taking on her current role in 2012. Black has prosecuted a variety of cases over the course of her career and has also conducted training for law enforcement agencies. She is often called to serve as a special prosecutor in other jurisdictions for complicated and high-profile cases, according to the release.
As an expert in DUI law, Black helped create the Advanced DUI for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement training program, which has helped hundreds of prosecutors and law enforcement officials; she also wrote the “DUI Manual for Virginia Prosecutors.” Her expertise has led her to work with state legislators to help draft bills and address problems specific to DUI investigation and prosecution.
Black has served on the Board of Directors for Avalon, A Center for Women and Children, and also on the Colonial Community Criminal Justice Board, including a term as chair.
Black will receive her award on July 12at the NAPC’s summer meeting in San Diego.
