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The CrimeSolutions.gov website uses rigorous research to inform practitioners and policymakers about what works in crime victim services, as well as criminal and juvenile justice. Visit the Victims of Crime section of the site to view the research on program effectiveness reviewed and rated by CrimeSolutions.gov researchers and reviewers. CrimeSolutions.gov was created by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and is operated by OJP's National Institute of Justice.
Also visit the OVC-funded Center for Victim Research. The Center provides access to victim research and data and seeks to improve the utility of research and data collection to crime victim services.
Agencies that receive Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds also have complimentary access to the Center's collection of subscription-based journal articles. Visit the Center for Victim Research Registration page and then click on “VOCA-Funded Agencies.” Once you are registered as a VOCA-Funded Agency, you will be able to search for both open-access and subscription resources.
Visit the Topics section of our site for additional publications and resources.
Begin by reviewing the Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide, an online guide that provides practical information on the creation and day-to-day operations of anti-human trafficking task forces, along with recent case examples. It includes strategies for strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration and enhancing victim identification as well as strategies for victim-centered investigation and prosecution.
The e-Guide is regularly updated with new tools, trainings, resources, and more case examples. The e-Guide is the result of a partnership between the OVC and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The Community Relations Service (CRS) is the U.S. Department of Justice's "peacemaker" and responds to communities experiencing conflict and violence to help restore peaceful relations.
CRS is the only federal agency dedicated to assisting state and local units of government, private and public organizations, and community groups with preventing community incidents and in restoring stability and harmony.
CRS facilitates the development of viable, mutual understandings and agreements as alternatives to coercion, violence, or litigation. It assists communities through facilitated dialogue, mediation, training, and consultation to overcome differences and build the skills needed to prevent future disputes.
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.
Individuals typically designated as mandatory reporters of child abuse, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, have frequent contact with children and may include health care workers, school personnel, child care providers, social workers, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals.
Information about mandatory reporters is available on the State Statutes section of the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. You may also consult with your state or Tribal child welfare agency.
Data about pedestrians killed or injured in crashes involving alcohol can be found in the annual Traffic Safety Facts publications on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis site.
For statistics on violence in the workplace, access the Violence in the Workplace publication series from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. See the Workplace Violence section of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health website for additional information.
View the comprehensive VOCApedia: Victim Assistance Program Final Rule to find answers to frequently asked questions that VOCA administrators have about the VOCA Victim Assistance Final Rule. If you have questions which are not answered in VOCApedia, please contact the OVC Resource Center at [email protected].
If you are a victim of stalking, call your local police department's emergency number (911) to report any incidents.
If you feel you need protection, and you have not done so already, you should consider filing for a protective order, which you can request through civil proceedings. Additionally, if appropriate, you may be able to obtain a no-contact order through the criminal case involving the defendant who threatened you.
A "protective," "no-contact," or "stay-away" order is a legal protection that a court issues against the offender to restrict the offender’s contact and interactions with you. If the offender continues to harass or threaten you, this behavior may be punishable by law. Under the Federal Violence Against Women Act, jurisdictions must give full faith and credit to valid protective orders issued by other jurisdictions. Full faith and credit is a legal term that means jurisdictions must honor and enforce orders issued by courts in other jurisdictions. This can enable you to call on law enforcement officers and the courts to enforce orders of protection across state lines.
If your local police department employs a victim advocate, they may be able to help you develop a safety plan. You may also contact a local victim service provider. If you need help locating a victim service provider in your area, contact VictimConnect Monday-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time:
The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center also provides information and resources on the What to Do if You Are Being Stalked section of their site.
