Topeka victims’ advocate Michelle McCormick has been named the new director of the victims’ services division in the attorney general’s office, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today. McCormick joins the attorney general’s office today as director and also will serve as the state victim rights coordinator, a statutory position housed with the attorney general’s office.

McCormick succeeds Dorthy Stucky Halley, who will retire from state service later this year. McCormick lives in Topeka and has been involved in victims’ advocacy since 2003. She returns to the attorney general’s office having previously served as the Batterer Intervention Program Coordinator from 2009 to 2016.

The victims’ services division of the attorney general’s office is charged with coordinating statewide victim rights efforts and administering grants and educational programs. The division also provides a Kansas crime victims’ hotline at (800) 828-9745.