2023 MORTON BARD AWARD WINNER, FREDERICK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT CHIEF ASSISTANT STATE’S ATTORNEY BRETT ENGLER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2023
Frederick, Maryland – The National Organization for Victim Assistance has awarded Frederick County State’s Attorney Domestic Violence Unit Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Brett Engler with the 2023 Morton Bard Award. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and tireless efforts in advancing crime victim’s rights. She was nominated and selected for this distinguished award by her colleagues and peers at NOVA, who collectively recognize the critical impact she makes daily. Her unwavering dedication to assisting and empowering victims and survivors of crime is an inspiration to us all. Most significantly, her extraordinary compassion, leadership and ingenuity in her work has helped countless victims and survivors begin to heal in the aftermath of a crime.
Ms. Engler has been with the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for over ten years primarily focusing on domestic violence cases. She spearheaded efforts to develop a more specialized unit devoted solely to domestic violence and intimate partner abuse which resulted in the creation of the new Domestic Violence Unit of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office where she serves as Chief.
“From the day Brett started, she had the passion and grit to stand up for victims of intimate partner violence. Here we are over a decade later, and she is turning heads nationally. Frederick is very fortunate to have such a smart and dedicated Chief DV prosecutor,” stated State’s Attorney Charlie Smith.
Ms. Engler works hard each day to protect victims of domestic violence and raise awareness of its dangers. She participates with, and leads, several local committees whose purpose is to provide better services to the victims they encounter. Most recently, her passion for protecting victims and combatting intergenerational cycles of violence led to the formation of the rebooted Frederick County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, on which she serves as Chair. She also Chairs the Frederick County Fatality Review Team and created a Domestic Violence High Risk Team that includes her office, the Office of Parole and Probation and law enforcement.
