Survivor advocates receive 2022 Champion of Justice Award



Pitcured are (left to right) Judge Amy Ronayne Krause, chair of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board; Hermina Kramp; Rebecca Shiemke; and Debi Cain, executive director of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.

Photo courtesy of Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services

“Hermina and Rebecca have a distinct history of devoting their careers to creating a better environment for survivors in our state,” said Debi Cain, executive director of the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board. “We are honored to recognize their service and dedication to advancing policy reform and ensuring justice for all survivors throughout Michigan.”

Kramp, of Grand Ledge in Ingham County, recently retired as deputy executive director of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and was responsible for its day-to-day operations, including direct supervision of personnel and the licensing investigation process. She was also closely involved in legislative initiatives, budget development and other commission-related projects. In addition to her decades of service with the commission, Kramp also served as chair to the Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Training Project, presented at various trainings and seminars and held positions on a number of state and national boards and task forces focused on law enforcement standards and domestic violence training and response.

“I am humbled by this award,” Kramp said. “In my many years in law enforcement, I have always felt that the work I did with the board, staff and advocates on behalf of survivors is the most important thing I did in my career.”

Shiemke, of Ann Arbor, is an attorney and family law specialist and recently retired from the Michigan Advocacy Program. She served as managing attorney for the Family Law Project and as family law attorney for the Michigan Poverty Law Program. For over 25 years, Shiemke has represented low-income survivors of domestic violence and provided supervision to an office of attorneys and law clerks. At Michigan Poverty Law Program, Shiemke provided support and training to others within her profession, advocated on legislative and administrative policies and served on various statewide task forces with a focus on improving the justice system for survivors. She is a long-standing member of the State Bar of Michigan Domestic Violence Committee and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Justice Center.

“I am truly honored to be recognized by the board whose members and staff I consider to be mentors and allies in the work to improve the lives of survivors,” Shiemke said. “My career has been rewarding and challenging, but it is work that I could not have sustained without the hard work of many others, including members of this board. Thank you.”

The Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board coordinates and monitors programs and services for the prevention of domestic and sexual violence and the treatment of victims of domestic and sexual violence and is administratively housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Michigan’s Domestic Violence Hotline is a free, confidential, and anonymous resource available 24/7/365. Call 1-866-864-2338, text 877-861-0222, or chat online by visiting www.mcedsv.org/hotline-domestic-violence/hotline-chat/.