Frequently Asked Questions

Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) is a depressant drug that is sometimes used in to perpetrate crimes, such as sexual assaults and rapes. Information about its use in drug-facilitated rape/sexual assault can be found in the following National Institute of Justice publications—

• Drug-Facilitated Rape: Looking for the Missing Pieces,
• Drug-facilitated, Incapacitated, and Forcible Rape: A National Study, and
• Estimate of the Incidence of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault in the U.S.

The National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations: Adults/Adolescents, Second Edition provides detailed guidelines for criminal justice and health care practitioners in responding to the immediate needs of sexual assault victims.

Additional information is available on the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Technical Assistance website. Please also visit the Office on Violence Against Women website for additional information.

The Federal Trade Commission's IdentityTheft.gov website can help you report identity theft and find resources to help you recover.

For additional information, visit the Identity Theft topic page on our site.

Call 1–888–373–7888 (toll free) or text BeFree (233733) to the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report a tip, to connect with anti-trafficking services in your area, or to request training and technical assistance, general information, or specific anti-trafficking resources.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is available to answer calls and texts from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. It is operated and implemented by Polaris Project and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) is an expense reimbursement program administered by the federal government. It covers specific out-of-pocket expenses that a victim of international terrorism may have incurred.

ITVERP was created by Congress as an amendment to the Crime Victims Act of 1984. Since 2006, ITVERP has been providing financial support to victims of international terrorism.

Visit the ITVERP section of our site to learn more.

The International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP) operates much like a state crime victim compensation program but is operated by the federal government. It reimburses victims for expenses they have already incurred that are directly linked to the terrorist incident that occurred outside the United States.

Victims must meet certain eligibility requirements, apply to the program, and submit all of their supporting documentation before their application is complete and can be considered for a reimbursement award.

ITVERP is available to victims only after they have exhausted all other sources that could cover their expenses. ITVERP only reimburses individuals for specific out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the international act of terrorism.

Katherine Darke Schmitt is the Acting Director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

Visit our Help for Victims microsite to learn about resources and services for victims of crime. Assistance may come in the form of financial reimbursement or victim services. Funding support for state assistance and compensation programs comes from the Crime Victims Fund administered by the OVC as authorized by the Victim of Crime Act.

Another source of help is your local victim/witness assistance program. You may contact the VictimConnect helpline by phone at 855–484–2846 or online chat for a referral in your area.

Find out more in this brochure, What You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime, which includes a brief overview of OVC, your rights, and where you can get help.

The mission of OVC is to enhance the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC accomplishes its mission in many ways, including—

• administering the Crime Victims Fund,
• funding and supporting programs that provide direct services to crime victims,
• providing training and technical assistance to the field,
• sponsoring demonstration projects, and
• producing publications and products on promising practices in victim services.

For more information, visit the About OVC section of our website.

If you are experiencing problems with a State Victim Notification Everyday (VINE) system, please contact the State organization responsible for the system. To locate the appropriate contact, visit the VINELink site and select your state from the map.