Frequently Asked Questions

Information on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification is available on the SANE Certification Central section of the International Association of Forensic Nurses website.

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) annually recognizes individuals, organizations, teams, and programs that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims and victim services. 

Sign up for the National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) Subscription List to receive email notification about future award nomination periods, along with other NCVRW announcements.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Child Welfare Information Gateway website contains a listing of websites and phone numbers for specific agencies designated to receive and investigate reports of suspected child abuse and neglect in each state. To identify the appropriate agency to contact in a specific state, see the State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers page. You can also contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-4-A-Child (800-422-4453).

For additional information and resources, see the Child Abuse Special Feature.

Advocates with the 24 hour-a-day National Domestic Violence Hotline are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information, and referrals to agencies in all 50 States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 100 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your/their relationship, please call the Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Additionally, if you are a teen in an abusive relationship, please contact the National Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or 1-866-331-8453 (TTY) by phone, by texting "loveis" to 22522, or via live chat. To learn more, see the National Dating Abuse Helpline website.

The mission of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is to enhance the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC accomplishes its mission by:

• Administering the Crime Victims Fund.
• Supporting direct services.
• Providing training programs.
• Sponsoring demonstration projects.
• Producing publications of promising practices in victim services.

If you are a victim of stalking, call your local police department's emergency number (911) to report any incidents.

If you feel you need protection, and you have not done so already, you should consider filing for a protective order, which you can request through civil proceedings. Additionally, if appropriate, you may be able to obtain a no-contact order through the criminal case involving the defendant who threatened you.

A "protective," "no-contact," or "stay-away" order is a legal protection that a court issues against the offender to restrict the offender’s contact and interactions with you. If the offender continues to harass or threaten you, this behavior may be punishable by law. Under the Federal Violence Against Women Act, jurisdictions must give full faith and credit to valid protective orders issued by other jurisdictions. Full faith and credit is a legal term that means jurisdictions must honor and enforce orders issued by courts in other jurisdictions. This can enable you to call on law enforcement officers and the courts to enforce orders of protection across state lines.

If your local police department employs a victim advocate, they may be able to help you develop a safety plan. You may also contact a local victim service provider. If you need help locating a victim service provider in your area, call the VictimConnect toll free helpline at 855–484–2846.

The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center also provides information and resources on the What to Do if You Are Being Stalked section of their site.

Information on police response to victims with disabilities is available in the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) DVD and guidebook, Victims with Disabilities: Collaborative, Multidisciplinary First Response. Visit the Victims with Disabilities section of the OVC site for additional resources.

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers the Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) to support victims and jurisdictions that have experienced incidents of terrorism or mass violence. Please review the AEAP brochure brochure for additional information.

Family members of homicide victims can find support groups in their area by contacting the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children and The Compassionate Friends. For additional information, visit the Homicide Victims/Co-Survivors section of the Office for Victims of Crime website.

If you believe that you are in danger, we strongly urge you to call your local police department’s emergency number (911). 

If your local police department employs a victim advocate, they may be able to help you develop a safety plan. You may also contact a local victim service provider. If you need help locating a victim service provider in your area, call the VictimConnect toll free helpline at 855-484-2846. 

The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center also provides information and resources on developing a safety plan on the What to Do if You Are Being Stalked section of their site. 

For additional information, visit the Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking sections of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) website.