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Victim Rights and Services

Help for Victims

Find assistance if you are a victim of crime, including national helplines, help in your state, and contact information for your state’s victim compensation program.

Events

Discover conferences, trainings, and other events to help raise awareness of crime victims' issues and build your knowledge to serve, support, and work with victims in your community.

If You're a Victim of Crime, Help is Available

October 2016
This 2.5-minute video describes the help that is available for victims of crime by recognizing the effects of crime, identifying certain victims' rights that are guaranteed in most states, and describing services available from state victim compensation and assistance programs. If you or someone you know is a victim of a crime, there are resources. Visit www.ovc.gov/help for more information.

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What is the Crime Victims Fund?

March 2016

This 2-minute video describes the Crime Victims Fund, a major funding source for victim services throughout the Nation that is made up of fines, special assessments, and forfeited bail paid by people who are convicted of federal crimes in U.S. courts around the country. The video offers information about the various grant programs funded using VOCA dollars and OVC's collaboration with state administrators of victim compensation and assistance programs.

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What is the Office for Victims of Crime?

April 2016

This 3-minute video describes OVC's mission and major responsibilities to enhance victims' rights and services for all victims across the United States.

The video also provides an overview of the Crime Victims Fund, describes how funding is distributed to the states to provide direct and accessible services, and discusses OVC's commitment to professionalization of the field through developing new programs; training and technical assistance; and disseminating information about model programs that benefit all victims of crime.

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National Elder Fraud Hotline

If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, we encourage you to call the Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Professional case managers will assist you with reporting the crime and connect you with other resources as needed. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time.

Featured Resources

View OVC news and announcements about crime victim services and assistance updated monthly.

The Tribal Resource Tool: Resources for Survivors of Crime and Abuse

Search the Tribal Resource Tool to help locate services available to American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of crime and abuse. This OVC-funded resource was created by the National Center for Victims of Crime, National Congress of American Indians, Tribal Law and Policy Institute, and the StrongHearts Native Helpline.

National Mass Violence Center

This OVC-funded initiative provides evidence-based information, training, and other resources for communities so they can effectively prepare for and respond to mass violence incidents.

Center for Victim Research

The OVC-funded Center for Victim Research (CVR) is a tool for victim service providers and researchers to connect and share knowledge. CVR facilitates access to victim research and data while improving the utility of research and data collection to crime victim services nationwide. CVR’s library collection offers open-access research materials, special access to research for VOCA-funded organizations, and free training.

VictimConnect Resource Center - Confidential referrals for crime victims

VictimConnect serves victims of any crime in the United States. Trained specialists are available to help crime victims with emotional support, information, and confidential referrals for mental health counseling, financial compensation, legal services, and more. Call or text 855-4VICTIM (855-484-2846) or chat online, Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

Cyber Civil Rights Initiative

This organization provides victims of intimate image abuse (sharing of nonconsensual intimate images), and other forms of online abuse with support and referral services. Visit the Initiative’s website or contact their 24/7 toll free Image Abuse Helpline hotline at 844-878-2274 for assistance. The Initiative also offers information for policymakers, attorneys, and others to help them understand and combat image-based sexual abuse.

American Bar Association: Survivor Reentry Project

With support from OVC, this American Bar Association website provides national training and technical assistance for attorneys working with survivors of human trafficking who have been convicted of a crime as a result of their victimization.

WomensLaw.org

This website provides state-specific plain-language legal information and resources for survivors of abuse. OVC helps fund the WomensLaw Email Hotline, which provides legal crisis intervention support using trauma-informed approaches that protect the safety and confidentiality of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.