BOSTON, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Northwestern Assistant District Attorney and Child Protection Unit Chief Lori Odierna was honored earlier this month with the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Spotlight Award at the organization’s annual conference in Boston. The Spotlight Award is given for outstanding service, spirit and professionalism and Odierna was one of 11 prosecutors from across the state honored by the MDAA.
From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office:
Child Protection Unit Chief honored at awards ceremony
Victim witness advocates earn length-of-service milestones
Northwestern Assistant District Attorney and Child Protection Unit Chief Lori Odierna was honored April 3 with the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Spotlight Award at the organization’s annual conference in Boston.
Odierna began working at the Northwestern DA’s office in 2016, joined its Child Protection Unit in 2018 and was promoted to lead the unit in 2022. Previously she worked for 20 years as an ADA in Hampden County.
In bestowing the award at the MDAA’s yearly prosecutors’ conference, Northwestern First Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne described Odierna as resilient, compassionate, relentless and steady.
“Lori and her team manage a never-ending stream of referrals and new cases involving some of the most heinous and heartbreaking cases of abuse and neglect,” Gagne said at the ceremony held at Seaport Hotel in Boston.
“Lori is also exceptionally humble and would be the first to acknowledge that she’s but one member of our entire CPU team,” said Gagne.
“But every good team needs a good leader, someone skilled in managing chaos and keeping everyone rowing in the same direction. That’s the kind of leader Lori is.”
Odierna was one of 11 prosecutors from across the state honored by the MDAA, an independent state agency supporting the 11 elected district attorneys, 785 prosecutors and 260 victim witness advocates.
The Spotlight Award is given for outstanding service, spirit and professionalism.
Also this month in honor of Victim Rights Month, the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance announced length-of-service milestones at DA’s offices. Northwestern District Victim Witness advocates Kate Clogston, Kathleen Bengtson and Kimberly Devine each have logged 15 years as advocates.
“Victim Witness Advocates are an indispensable source of strength and reassurance for victims and witnesses thrust into the unfamiliar waters of the criminal justice system,” said Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. “We are fortunate to have such an exceptionally talented and dedicated staff of advocates. I congratulate Kate, Kathleen and Kimberly on well-deserved recognition.”