Dr. Rita Davis Cannon from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Receives Honor During Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Atlanta – October 6, 2026 – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and victims’ rights advocacy group, Marsy’s Law for Georgia, has awarded the victim services director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council (PAC) of Georgia, Dr. Rita Davis-Cannon, with a Marsy’s Law for Georgia Champion Award. Dr. Davis-Cannon is not only a dedicated victim services advocate and Marsy’s Law for Georgia advisory board member, but also is a domestic violence survivor.
In her role at PAC, Dr. Davis-Cannon provides statewide consultation, trainings and professional development to Georgia’s victim witness assistance personnel. She has also partnered with the University of West Georgia and most recently Middle Georgia State University to develop curriculum for Victim Services Certifications at both institutions.
“Recognizing Dr. Rita Davis-Cannon for her more than 25 years of career victim advocacy is long overdue,” said Brad Alexander, a Marsy’s Law for Georgia representative. “Without Rita’s help, we would not be able to do what we do to reach the people — institutions and survivors — that we do to connect them to resources they need to heal from their traumatic experiences.”
The Marsy’s Law for Georgia Champion Award is intended to honor and recognize victim service providers and survivors for going above and beyond their advocacy for victims’ rights to be notified of relevant court proceedings, to be heard and to be treated with compassion and dignity during the judicial process. During October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Marsy’s Law for Georgia plans to identify several individuals and organizations to recognize with awards to raise awareness for both domestic violence prevention and victims’ rights.
“Receiving the Marsy’s Law Champion Award during Domestic Violence Awareness Month is especially meaningful to me,” said Dr. Rita Davis-Cannon. “For more than 25 years, I have dedicated my career to serving victims and survivors and helping strengthen the systems responsible for supporting them. My own lived experience has largely remained private, but it has always been an unspoken driving force behind my commitment to this work. I understand personally why a victim’s voice, rights, dignity, and ability to be heard matter. To be recognized for work that has been both deeply personal and professionally meaningful to me for so many years is truly an honor.”
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April, Marsy’s Law for Georgia recognized the Georgia Office of Victim Services Director Keir Chapple and Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett. Past recipients of the Marsy’s Law Champion Award include U.S. Sen. John Lewis, U.S. Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock, Rep. Lucy McBath, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady, former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and Georgia’s First Lady Marty Kemp. Additional recipients will be announced throughout the year. To nominate a crime victims’ advocate for consideration, please contact Frances Chang at fchang@c21pr.com.
View additional photos from the event here.