Resources for Victims of Crimes in America
Anyone can fall victim to a deliberate act that harms another person physically or psychologically, damages or destroys property, or violates the law regardless of age, social class, educational level, sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
In collaboration with state, county, and municipal governments and non-governmental organizations, the national government funds various programs to help these victims with various support. The support may come in different ways, such as:
- Educational materials
- Psychological help
- Reporting crimes
- Financial help
- Temporary housing shelters and food
- Medical aid
- Attorney and Advocacy
- Training
Different Types of Crimes People Fall Victims To
Crimes vary from minor offenses to severe crimes. Some of the serious offenses that impact most victims include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Domestic Violence
- Human Trafficking
- Child Abuse
- Sexual abuse, violence, and Rape
- Murder and homicide
- Abduction and kidnapping
- Racial Abuse
- Hate crimes
- Elder Fraud and Abuse
911 has always been the best and most effective victim resource for any crime. When you think someone is in danger of violence, abuse, danger, accident, or missing, you should contact 911-your local law enforcement agency.
Nonetheless, here are some of the available resources for victims of crime in the US:
Human Trafficking Victims Resources
Human Trafficking is using force, deceit, and coercion for labor and commercial sex. This is modern slavery or exploitation.
Visit the OVC Human Trafficking website to access a searchable matrix of services for trafficking victims from organizations supported by OVC and Bureau of Justice Assistance grants. These services include outreach, legal/court advocacy, specialized mental health, emergency shelter, and intensive case management. For simple access to this program’s information, check the Services and Task Forces Map.
Other resources include:
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC): 1-888-373-7888 or emailing [email protected].
National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center: support and improve the public health response to human trafficking.
Human Trafficking Special Feature: offers materials and information to victims and victim service providers after research.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP): creates strategies, policies, and programs to combat human trafficking, improve victim identification and access to services, and improve health and well-being outcomes for trafficking survivors.
Department of Justice (DOJ): Human trafficking: creates awareness and policies that help the nation fight against human trafficking.
Department of Justice (DOJ): Project Safe Childhood: Seeks to prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center: offers training and technical assistance for all runaway and homeless youth.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Violent Crimes Against Children/Online Predators: Identifies and rescues children who are victims of human trafficking and exploitation, online and in person.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Blue Campaign: Raises public awareness on the issue of human trafficking.
President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking (PITF): creates strategies and coordinate federal efforts to fight against human trafficking in the nation.
Domestic Violence Victims Resources
A domestic violence victim or survivor has endured a pattern of coercive, threatening, or harmful physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological behavior employed in any relationship to acquire or retain power and control over an intimate partner. Here are some of the resources for such victims:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
The National Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (HOPE)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
National Center for Victims of Crime: 1-202-467-8700
National Human Trafficking Resource Center/Polaris Project: 1-888-373-7888 | Text: HELP to BeFree (233733)
National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: 1-510-465-1984
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: 1-800-537-2238
Futures Without Violence: The National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence: 1-888-792-2873
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health: 1-312-726-7020 ext. 2011
National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-RUNAWAY or 1-800-786-2929
Gender-Based Violence Victims Resources
Gender-based violence is any abuse inflicted against an individual or a group of individuals because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Some resources are available to create awareness and offer financial, medical, and mental health aid.
National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS): 1-720-466-3882
A Call to Men: 1-917-922-6738
Men Stopping Violence: 1-866-717-9317
Battered Women’s Justice Project: 1-800-903-0111
Legal Momentum: 1-212-925-6635 and www.legalmomentum.org
Womenslaw.org: www.womenslaw.org
National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women: 1-800-903-0111 x 3
Legal Network for Gender Equity: nwlc.org/join-the-legal-network/
Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project
Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Gay, Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming Abuse Victim Resources
Victims here were or are being abused for their gender identity. Here are some of the resources for such victims:
The Audre Lorde Project: 1-178-596-0342
LAMBDA GLBT Community Services: 1-206-350-4283
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: 1-202-393-5177
Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse: 1-206-568-7777
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
Child and Teen Abuse Victim Resources
Child abuse is physically, sexually, or emotionally hurting a child. It may even be the awful treatment of a child, particularly when the child is forced to work. Here are some of the resources you can utilize to deliver a child from such shackles:
Childhelp USA/National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
Children’s Defense Fund: 202-628-8787
Child Welfare League of America: 202-638-2952
Child Protection and Custody/Resource Center on Domestic Violence: 1-800-527-3233
Center for Judicial Excellence: [email protected]
National Child Abuse Hotline/Childhelp: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Love is respect Hotline: 1-866-331-9474
Break the Cycle: 202-824-0707
Racial Abuse Victim Resources
Women of Color Network: 1-800-537-2238
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence: [email protected]
Casa de Esperanza: Linea de crisis 24-horas/24-hour crisis line: 1-651-772-1611
National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities: 1-651-646-5553
The National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project: (202) 274-4457
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: 855-649-7299
Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence: 1-415-954-9988
Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV): 1-212- 473-6485
Manavi: 1-732-435-1414
The Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute: 1-770-909-0715
Elder Fraud and Abuse Victims Resources
There are a few resources for victims of elderly fraud and abuse. They include the following:
The National Elder Scam Hotline: Call 833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311 to talk to professional case managers.
US Department of Health & Human Services: Eldercare Locator at (800-677-1116); offers home care, transportation, housing options, home maintenance, recreation, social activities, legal assistance, and other community services.
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)-Funded Elder Abuse Programs
Office of Justice Programs: Elder Abuse Special Feature; provides educational materials on elderly physical, sexual, and psychological abuse; neglect; and financial exploitation.
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection: Managing Someone Else’s Money; offers advice to financial caregivers on managing funds belonging to the elderly.
US Administration on Aging: protects the elders from neglect, abuse, and exploitation.
National Center on Elder Abuse: 1-855-500-3537
National Council on Aging: Savvy Saving Seniors offer financial management help.
Homicide and Grief Victim Resources
Directory of Crime Victim Services; Office for Victims of Crime; Office of Justice Programs; US Department of Justice:
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices
National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children: 1-888-818-POMC or 1-888-818-7662
Mothers Against Drunk Driving: 1-800-GET-MADD or 1-800-438-6233
National Center for Victims of Crime: 202-467-8700
The Compassionate Friends: 1-877-969-0010
Concerns of Police Survivors: 1-800-784-2677
Resources for Victims of Abduction, Kidnapping, and Missing Persons
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 703–224–2150 or Fax: 703–224–2122 (fax)
Child Find of America: conducts free searches for missing children and campaigns to stop kidnappings.
US Department of State: International Parental Child Abduction: Call: 888–407–4747 or 202–501–4444 if your child is abducted by a parent, legal guardian, or a third party.
Child Protection FAQ and Guide for Tribal Communities, October 2017: Reading Material: it provides Tribal communities an understanding of what to expect, what to do as a first response, and what kinds of questions to expect when a child goes missing.
The First Three Hours, 2017: offers advice on being ready as a parent or guardian when a child goes missing.
AMBER Alert: Offers an overview of AMBER Alert efforts, strategies, publications, and training events of the OJP.
Is Your Child Missing? Hotline: 800–THE–LOST (800–843–5678).
Safety Central App: a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children app that serves as a digital ID for a child where the parent can save information about the child, including their fingerprints and pictures.
Recommendations
If you know someone is in immediate danger, you should call 911 and contact your local law enforcement agencies first. This is mainly for the victims who are suffering physical and sexual abuse.
Again, do not fear reaching out for help. This is because most of these resources are private and confidential. The victim service provider will not share your information or identity with anyone you do not want to know about you.
Furthermore, many victims of crime are afraid of reaching for help as they are afraid of someone else knowing they are victims of crime. This is true, especially for sexually abused victims and men in domestic and gender abuse crimes.
Finally, know you are not alone. There are so many individuals out there who have endured the same pain and suffering you have. So, do not think of self-harm and suicide because the crime happened to you. Instead, reach out for help and talk to someone.
