Produced by the Stalking Resource Center of the National Center for Victims of Crime with funding from OVC, this self-paced, interactive online training will help increase the ability of criminal justice professionals and victim service providers to recognize how stalkers use technology and, ultimately, enhance their ability to work with victims of stalking. This course highlights—
Register for training on the Use of Technology To Stalk. It’s free!
Attorneys and advocates who work with domestic violence survivors must have an understanding of the common types of consumer law problems faced by survivors, as well as the skills and resources necessary to gather a complete picture of their clients’ risks, including their economic risks, to provide effective legal representation and advocacy. To meet this need, the Consumer Rights for Domestic Violence Survivors Initiative (CRDVSI) developed and recently released The Consumer Rights Screening Tool for Domestic Violence Advocates and Lawyers (PDF 1.5 mb). This screening tool aims to provide a general overview of common consumer issues with which survivors grapple and offer concrete guidance on how to identify consumer law issues in the course of one’s client work. Topics include—
Funded by OVC, CRDVSI is a partnership of the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice, the National Consumer Law Center, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates.
Across the country, professionals in the criminal justice and victim service systems are working to improve the collection of crime victim restitution. The OVC-funded Restitution Collection Toolkit was developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime as part of a project to improve the collection of crime victim restitution by capturing the knowledge and experience of those on the front lines. Many officials share responsibility for the collection of victim restitution, from prosecutors and their staff to court personnel, probation and parole officials, corrections departments, and even victims themselves. The toolkit includes resources of interest to all of them, as well as to policymakers.
The materials are organized materials into the following six categories—
The materials in the toolkit were gathered from speakers and participants that attended the National Center’s 2010 Restitution Roundtable; obtained through outreach to practitioners and staff research; and created as part of this project. If you have additional resources to share, contact the National Center at ncvcpolicy@ncvc.org.
On October 19, 2011, at 3:00-4:15 pm (eastern time), the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), an OVC grantee, will host a webinar on Assisting Elderly Victims of Mortgage Fraud. The webinar will be presented by Theresa Ronnebaum, Identity Theft Program Specialist, Florida Attorney General’s Office, and Terry Campos, JD, NCVLI Responding to Online Fraud Attorney.
This webinar training will provide an overview of mortgage fraud perpetrated against older individuals, and best practices for attorneys and advocates in protecting this victim population’s rights in criminal prosecutions. Participants will learn about—
This training is only open to National Alliance of Victims’ Rights Attorneys (NAVRA) members registered with the new website. If you are not yet a registered member, you can join NAVRA for free.
Media Guide for Victim Service Providers
This media guide is intended to help victim service providers advise victims in their dealings with the media and serve the entire spectrum of the victim services field, from professionals who are branded new to their role as "victim media advisor" to those with decades of experience.
A Guide for Journalists Who Report on Crime and Crime Victims
This guide is designed to advise and assist journalists who seek to cover crime and victimization in a way that is sensitive to crime victims, yet still allows them to fulfill their role and responsibilities to the public as reporters.
OVC is pleased to announce the release of Serving Survivors of Homicide Victims During Cold Case Investigations: A Guide for Developing a Law Enforcement Protocol. This publication was produced by the National Sheriffs’ Association, in partnership with Justice Solutions and the National Organization of Parents Of Murdered Children, Inc., with funding from OVC. Prior to development, the partnership’s Project Team conducted extensive research and outreach on this subject during which six key areas were identified and subsequently addressed in the Guide:
OVC and the project partners hope the Guide will be helpful to law enforcement and prompt agencies to develop protocols on serving survivors of homicide victims during cold case investigations.
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), through funding from OVC, offers resources including fact sheets and four podcasts about general cyberbullying information, taking action in schools, creating community change, and how teens feel about cyberbullying.
Visit NCPC’s Cyberbullying Web page for information and resources to curb the growing problem of cyberbullying.
In April 2011, the Department of Defense (DoD) launched Safe Helpline, a new confidential crisis support service for adult service members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. Operated by RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, the helpline provides live, one-on-one expert advice and information 24/7.
Victims of sexual assault can seek resources and crisis support 24/7 and anonymously
by—
RAINN provides Safe Helpline services through a contract with the DoD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), the organization responsible for oversight of Department of Defense (DoD) sexual assault policy.
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has released its Public Hearing on Victim Issues in Probation and Parole Recommendation Report (PDF 7 mb), based on testimony provided during a public hearing sponsored by OVC at the APPA Annual Training Institute in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2010. The report summarizes comments from the panel of crime victims and survivors and provides 10 recommendations for improving services to victims and survivors throughout the community corrections process.
May 2011
In April 2011, OVC awarded a grant to the Mental Health Association (MHA) of New York City to help improve services and assistance by providing supplemental support and information-sharing resources to the victims, their families, emergency responders, and survivors of 9/11 in conjunction with the 10th anniversary.
The Healing and Remembrance Program, to be administered by MHA-NYC, will offer the following services to victims of 9/11:
MHA-NYC will also work with key federal and local partners to support commemorative events and observances in New York City, at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania Flight #93 Memorial, and at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia during the weekend of September 10-11, 2011.
Visit the Healing and Remembrance Program Web site for more information or call the toll-free hotline at 1-866-212-0444.
April 2011
In April 2011, the National Center for Victims of Crime, with the support of OVC, released Making Restitution Real: Five Case Studies on Improving Restitution Collection (PDF 4.5 mb) reporting on state and local efforts to address the problem of uncollected victim restitution. A review of the state initiatives of California, Michigan, and Vermont and two local programs of Maricopa County, Arizona, and Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit helps present lessons learned and the challenges that remain with uncollected criminal debt.
March 2011
FBI Recognizes Human Trafficking Victim Services program with 2010 Director’s Community Leadership Award
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| Amy Fleischauer accepts the award from FBI Director Mueller. |
The International Institute of Buffalo was established in 1918 to support immigrants who face exploitation. In 2007, the Human Trafficking Victim Services program was created to provide services to victims of human trafficking.
FBI Recognizes Cleveland Rape Crisis Center with 2010 Director’s Community Leadership Award
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| Megan O’Bryan accepts the award from FBI Director Mueller. |
CRCC was selected by the Cleveland FBI office for its role in Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s Special Commission on Missing Persons and Sex Crimes Investigations and subsequent implementation of changes in policy and procedure. Today, CRCC has a victim advocate stationed in Cleveland Division of Police Sex Crimes Unit to assist sexual assault survivors who make a report.
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center supports survivors of sexual violence, promotes healing and prevention and creates social change. The Center served more than 18,000 people in 2010. For more information, visit www.clevelandrapecrisis.org or call 216-619-6194. The Center’s 24-hour hotline is 216-619-6192.
February 2011
Forensic DNA as a Tool for Survivors and Bringing Justice to Victims
In partnership with OVC, the National Center for Victims of Crime has developed information and materials for its DNA Resource Center. The Resource Center features—
Visit the DNA Resource Center now to learn about the importance of forensic DNA as a tool!
The Rape Abuse Incest and National Network (RAINN) has released a new web video about its National Sexual Assault Online Hotline. The video, produced with OVC support, illustrates how survivors can receive confidential, live one-on-one assistance through an instant messaging format by logging onto online.rainn.org.
January 2011
NCVLI Announces Participation in the Vision 21 Initiative
The National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI), one of the five contributing projects for the Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services initiative, is seeking input from the victim services field.Visit the NCVLI site now to find out how you can get involved!
The Crime Victims’ Assistance Network (CVAN) is seeking a Director for the State Victim Assistance Academy (SVAA) in Oregon. The Oregon SVAA provides comprehensive, academic-based, fundamental education for victim service providers and allied professionals who routinely interact with victims of crime.
December 2010
Applications are being accepted until Monday, December 20, 2010. Learn more about the position and the application process by visiting the Job Opportunities section of the CVAN Web site. Read more about SVAA’s on the OVC Web site.
October 2010
DNA and Crime Victims
The National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) hosts a Webinar series regarding DNA and crime victims geared primarily toward victim service providers, though law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and other allied professionals are welcome to attend. Sponsored by OVC, this series began in January 2010 and will conclude in November 2010. Visit the NCVC Web site now to listen to recordings of past Webinars and keep informed about upcoming Webinars.
Training and Technical Assistance Newsletter; USTCDG – Summer 2010
Produced in part with OVC funds, this newsletter highlights information and resources specific to the needs of CCVIC/FBO grantees (Counseling for Crime Victims in Indian Country by Faith-Based Organizations grantees) to facilitate strength and healing for victims of crime in tribal communities. This bimonthly newsletter is available online.
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