National Center for Victims of Crime

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The National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information, resources and advocacy for victims of all types of crime, as well as the people who serve them. The staff oversees a variety of programs including, but not limited to: the DNA Resource Center, the Stalking Resource Center, the Financial Crime Resource Center, the National Compassion Fund, Victim Connect and the DC Victim Hotline. NCVC also hosts the annual National Training Institute, designed to share current research and effective policies with service providers, in order to advance the quality of services available to victims of crime.

The National Center for Victims of Crime holds an annual National Training Institute (NTI). The NTI is held in conjunction with the National Crime Victim Bar Association National Conference, “Civil Actions for Criminal Acts”. The National Training Institute emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to sharing promising practices, current research, and effective programs and policies that are victim-centered, practice-based, and research-informed. The National Training Institute is a forum for law enforcement, victim service professionals, allied practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to share current developments and build new collaborations. Sessions will highlight practical information to better support services for the wide range of persons victimized by crimes of all types.^[2]

The VictimConnect Resource Center is a project funded by OVC and launched in July 2015. It is a place for victims of any crime to learn about their rights and options-- confidentially and compassionately. VictimConnect can be accessed anywhere in the United States through a traditional telephone-based helpline and innovative online chat services Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 7 PM EST. Staffers of the helpline are called Victim Assistance Specialists, and they have specialized training in helping victims connect with resources, access referrals, and craft next steps to regain control over their lives. Both English and Spanish speakers are available and the program has access to interpreters for over 200 languages. Additionally, VictimConnect has a Senior Services Program to assist senior victims of abuse or financial fraud. Senior services staff have been specifically trained to provide referrals, community resources, and additional support to prevent and increase awareness of elder abuse.^[3]

The DC Victim Hotline officially launched on October 1, 2015 and if funded by the DC Office of Victim Services. It is the only city wide hotline to provide free, confidential local resources for victims of all types of crime in the District of Columbia. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is free and completely confidential. The hotline provides an access point for victims of any crime to access the assistance they need and increases the reach and effectiveness of the District’s crime victim response system. The much needed service is focused on reaching marginalized populations - those who need it the most and access it the least. The Victim Assistance Specialists staffing the hotline are working to build connections with community partners through networking and cross-training. They will provide basic crisis-intervention, in addition to relevant and appropriate referrals to community organizations in response to the caller’s needs. Eventually the program will have an online chat platform option available as well as texting to better meet the needs of individuals in the community.^[4]

In 2000, the National Center for Victims of Crime partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women to create the Stalking Resource Center (SRC). Since its inception, the SRC has trained over 100,000 professionals who work with victims in all 50 states, two US Territories, the District of Columbia, the United Kingdom, and Germany and provided technical assistance to hundreds of communities seeking to enhance their response to stalking. Though the United States has come a long way in how the crime of stalking is addressed and victims are treated, there is still much work to be done. The SRC is committed to continuing its national effort to promote awareness, action, and advocacy to enhance victim safety and hold stalking offenders accountable.^[5]