Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The DC Victim Hotline was created by the DC Mayor’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants in partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crime
Today marks the official launch of the DC Victim Hotline (www.dcvictim.org), a first-of-its-kind, free and confidential resource in DC for anyone who has been impacted by crime in the District. Created through a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants and the National Center for Victims of Crime, the DC Victim Hotline connects victims of crime with trained victim assistance specialists who can help them address the physical, financial, legal, and emotional repercussions of crime.
“There are many support services available to victims of crime in DC, addressing everything from housing to mental health, but navigating the systems to actually obtain those services can be challenging, especially for those who have experienced trauma,” said Michelle M. Garcia, Director of the DC Mayor’s Office of Victims Services and Justice Grants. “That is why this new hotline is so important to DC. It will serve as a conduit to quickly connect victims of all crimes to services they need, but may not have known were available to them.”
The DC Victim Hotline was launched at an event in DC during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 10-16). The event included an overview of the new hotline’s capabilities, information on how the hotline can be utilized by DC organizations, and speakers who discussed the realities of crime in DC. Crime expert and advocate William Kellibrew shared his story of witnessing the violent murders of his mother and brother.
With the support of dozens of local service providers, advocacy organizations, and non-profits, the DC Victim Hotline represents an unprecedented collaboration of organizations to provide help on a range of issues including financial compensation, legal assistance, mental health, medical services, and case management. Services also exist for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, homicide, or human trafficking, as well as for victims who are immigrants, LGBTQ, and Deaf or hard of hearing.
“Many cities have hotlines specific to one or two crime areas, but few have created hotlines that can connect victims to resources regardless of the crime they’ve experienced,” said Victoria Hougham, Director of Victim Services for the National Center for Victims of Crime. “The DC Victim Hotline is providing a valuable service to the DC community by simplifying the process of accessing help and by integrating text message and online chat features, to meet victims where they feel safest.”
The DC Victim Hotline can be accessed by phone 24/7 hours a day, and by text message and online chat during select workday hours. Assistance can be provided in English, Spanish, and more than 200 other languages.
If you or someone who know has experienced a crime, contact the DC Victim Hotline by phone or text by dialing 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732). For online chat visit www.DCvictim.org/Chat.
About the DC Victim Hotline
The DC Victim Hotline is a free and confidential resource for anyone who has been impacted by crime in DC, created through a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants and the National Center for Victims of Crime. The DC Victim Hotline operates with the support of an unprecedented collaboration of service providers in DC to help crime victims address the physical, financial, legal, and emotional effects of crime. To contact the DC Victim Hotline call or text 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732), or access the online chat feature at www.DCvictim.org/Chat.