National Resources
Crime Victims Action Alliance
The Crime Victims Action Alliance is a private non-profit social welfare organization founded in 1992 to educate law makers and the public about victims’ rights and issues effecting victims of crime. The Crime Victims Action Alliance aggressively advocates for better laws, rights and support for victims of violent crime.
Phone: 916.273.3603
Email: information@cvactionalliance.org
California specific resources
California Victim Rights Manual
(Compiled by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office)
http://www.rivcoda.org/Programs/VictimRightsProj/VictimRightsManual_d3.pdf
California Office of the Governor
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160
California Office of the Attorney General
Office of Victim Services
Through the Office of Victims’ Services, crime victims and the family of murdered victims now are able to track the status of criminal cases and appeals. These updates allow victims and family survivors to exercise their rights to testify or otherwise participate in parole, clemency and execution proceedings.
Phone Toll-free: 1-877-433-9069
http://caag.state.ca.us/victimservices/
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Victim Services
The primary purpose of the Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services is to proactively enforce and promote the rights of victims and survivors throughout the state’s youth and adult correctional system. Victims and survivors have a legal right to receive notification of an offenders death, release, or escape. They also have a legal right to be notified of, and to attend, annual case reviews and Board of Parole Hearings. Additionally, they have a constitutional right to receive restitution for economic losses resulting from crimes committed against them.
If you are the victim of crime, victim’s next of kin, witness, or concerned citizen and you would like to receive notification of the status of the adult inmate in prison, request special conditions of parole for the inmate when he/she is released from prison, or provide the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) with information to verify the collection of restitution ordered to you by the court, you may use the following link and complete the online version of the CDCR Form 1707 (Rev. 04/08) http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Victim_Services/docs/victim_form.pdf . (The form is a PDF file and requires that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. The software is free from Adobe.com) Complete the form online and print it or print the form to complete it offline. Sign and date the form. Mail the completed form to:
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services
P.O. Box 942883
Sacramento, CA 94283-0001
The Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services website will provide you with valuable information if you were the victim, survivor, or witness to a crime and the offender was sentenced to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Phone Toll Free: 1-877-256-OVSS (6877)
www.cdcr.ca.gov/Victim_Services/
California Courts Self-help Center
Provides information and resources on their website that you may find on the internet, as well as answers to questions about the various types of assistance for victims.
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/other/victim/
California District Attorneys Association
Lists the Office of the District Attorney in each county in the state of California and provides their contact information.
Phone: (916) 443-2017
California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
If you or someone close to you was injured or threatened with injury in a violent crime, California’s Victim Compensation Program may help pay certain crime-related expenses.
The Government Claims Program (GCP) processes claims for money or damages against the state and may provide reimbursement for travel expenses to parole hearings if the hearing was postponed.
Phone: 1-800-777-9229
Victim Compensation Program http://www.vcgcb.ca.gov/victims/
Government Claims Program http://www.vcgcb.ca.gov/claims/default.aspx
California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Provides resources and information for victims of sexual assault. Their website lists a statewide directory of rape crisis centers throughout California.
Phone: 916-446-2520
Email: info@calcasa.org
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
Provides resources and information for victims of domestic violence. Their website lists a statewide directory of domestic violence hotlines and assistance programs.
Toll Free: 800-524-4765
Phone: 916-444-7163
Email: info@cpedv.org
http://www.cpedv.org/resources.html
Identity Theft Resource Center
Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a nonprofit, nationally respected organization dedicated exclusively to the understanding and prevention of identity theft. The ITRC provides consumer and victim support as well as public education.
Phone: 858-693-7935
Email: itrc@idtheftcenter.org
International Cruise Victims Association
International Cruise Victims Association(ICV) represents victims of crime on cruise ships, their families and friends, and individuals concerned about the problems of victimization and disappearances on cruise ships. With several hundred members, the organization advocates for legislative reform to protect passengers from crimes and increase the rights of victims of crimes that do occur on cruise ships, and provides support to victims of crimes occurring on cruise ships.
Phone: 425-753-7711
www.internationalcruisevictims.org/
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
If you or a loved one has been affected by a drunk driving crash, MADD is here to help you. They provide emotional support; literature on victim issues; resources to help cope with the complex legal, medical and financial ramifications of a crash; and navigation of the criminal and civil justice systems.
MADD hosts live Victim Support Forums and chats every Monday night at 7 p.m. CT and every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. CT. These online gatherings provide opportunities for victims and family members share their insights, feelings and experiences in a safe, understanding environment.
Phone Toll Free: 800-GET-MADD (800-438-6233)
24 Hour Victim Services Helpline: 877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435)
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s® (NCMEC) mission is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
Phone: 703-274-3900
Toll Free 24-hour Helpline: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
National Center for Victims of Crime
The National Center for Victims of Crime works to make sure all crime victims get the assistance and information they need. Their GetHelp bulletins provide information on a wide range of topics, including the impact of crime, victims’ rights, and the criminal and civil justice processes. The bulletins also include resources for victims, their families, and friends. You can contact them for help, information about your options, and referrals to local services anywhere in the country.
Phone: (202) 467-8700
Victim Helpline: 1-800-FYI-CALL (394-2255)
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 8:30 pm ET
National Crime Victim Law Institute
NCVLI does not provide legal advice or directly represent crime victims. They will work, however, to make sure you get the information and referrals you need.
Phone: 503-768-6600
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Hotline advocates provide support and assistance to anyone involved in a domestic violence situation, including those in same-sex relationships, male survivors, those with disabilities and immigrant victims of domestic violence. All calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline are anonymous and confidential. Hotline Services Include:
Crisis intervention, safety planning, information about domestic violence and referrals to local service providers; A direct connection to domestic violence resources available in the caller’s area provided by a Hotline advocate; Assistance in both English and Spanish with Hotline advocates having access to more than 140 different languages through interpreter services.
24 Hour Confidential Victim Helpline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children
POMC® provides the on-going emotional support needed to help parents and other survivors facilitate the reconstruction of a “new life” and to promote a healthy resolution. Not only does POMC help survivors deal with their acute grief but also helps with the criminal justice system.
Phone Toll Free: (888) 818-POMC
Email: natlpomc@aol.com
National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
NOVA provides information and referrals for victims of crime and disaster.
The National Organization for Victim Assistance is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization of victim and witness assistance programs and practitioners, criminal justice agencies and professionals, mental health professionals, researchers, former victims and survivors, and others committed to the recognition and implementation of victim rights and services.
Phone: 703-535-NOVA (6682)
Toll Free 24-hour Helpline: 1-800-TRY-NOVA (1-800-879-6682)
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
RAINN provides support for sexual assault victims and their loved ones. Whether you are more comfortable on the telephone or online, RAINN has services that can guide you in your recovery.
Their Online Hotline provides live, secure, anonymous crisis support for victims of sexual assault, their friends, and families over RAINN’s website. The Online Hotline is free of charge and is available 18 hours per day, 7 days a week, from 10am until 4am.online.rainn.org.
24 Hour Confidential Victim Helpline: 1-800-656-HOPE
US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is a federal agency within the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Congress formally established OVC in 1988 through an amendment to the 1984 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to provide leadership and funding on behalf of crime victims.
OVC provides federal funds to support victim compensation and assistance programs across the Nation. OVC also provides training for diverse professionals who work with victims, develops and disseminates publications, supports projects to enhance victims’ rights and services, and educates the public about victim issues.
Phone: (202) 307-5983
Citizens Against Homicide
A non-profit, public benefits organization serving families and friends of homicide victims. A few of the services they provide are:
- At the request of families, keep convicted murderers in prison with
Parole Board letter writing campaigns across the US, featured
in their monthly Newsletter. - At the request of families, feature Victim Profiles in their monthly Newsletter,
honoring the deceased and attempting to generate new leads in unsolved
and cold cases. - Provide guidance through the complicated criminal justice system
one on one. - Assist families in securing information on homicide reward funds in
California one on one.
Meetings are held the 2nd Sunday of each month at 301 4th Street, San Rafael, CA at 10:00am.
Phone: 415-455-5944
Email: vctmsmurdr@aol.com
http://www.citizensagainsthomicide.org/
Justice for Homicide Victims
A non-profit organization providing support in dealing with the pain and suffering associated with the homicide of a loved one.
Phone: 310-457-0030
www.justiceforhomicidevictims.net
Parents of Murdered Children, Sacramento Chapter
A support group for ALL family members (not just parents) and friends of those who have lost a loved one through violence. POMC provides emotional support and companionship, including accompaniment for survivors who must attend court proceedings.
Phone: 916-899-0090
Email: sacpomc@surewest.net
http://www.pomc.org/sacramento/
Friends and Family of Murder Victims
Provides ongoing emotional support to anyone, family member or friend, who is working through the trauma-grief of losing a loved one to murder or the violence of an attempted murder.
Email: ffmv.je@verizon.net
http://www.webersons.com/ffmv/
Megan’s Law
California Department of Justice’s Internet web site, which lists designated registered sex offenders in California.
Victims of Crime Resource Center
Primarily through its telephone service, Center staff provide resource and referral information to victims and their families, victim service providers and other victim advocates. Callers receive information on such matters as victims’ compensation, victims’ rights in the Justice System, restitution, civil suits, right to speak at sentencing and parole board hearings, as well as information on specific rights of victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, child abuse, and abuse against the disabled.
The Center’s Crime Victims Legal Clinic provides direct representation to crime victims in the greater Sacramento. Through this clinic, law students and pro bono attorneys represent crime victims in exercising their rights at each stage of the criminal proceeding: pretrial, trial and post trial.
Phone Toll Free: 1-800-VICTIMS (842-8467)