Victims Assistance Resources

Niagara County

The Niagara County Sheriff's Victims Assistance Program

Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) & Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) serve all of Niagara County and has a 24/7 on-call availability for all Niagara County law enforcement agencies.

The DVIP, established in 1994, provides Niagara County domestic violence victims access to services and entry into the criminal justice system through early intervention to provide the safety and support. Every Domestic Incident Report filed with law enforcement agencies is acted upon shortly after an incident occurs. The Victim Services Coordinator and Crime Victim Advocates provide support and advocacy which includes:

• Safety planning
• Danger Assessment
• Referrals to appropriate services
• Court accompaniment
• Meetings with District Attorney’s
• Assistance in obtaining Orders of Protection

Awareness about domestic violence is provided through trainings and presentations to improve community responses to domestic violence.

• Dynamics of Domestic Violence - Power and Control
• Effects of Domestic Violence on Victims and Children
• Teen Dating Violence
• Effective Response to Domestic Violence
• Resources Available for Victims
• Training for law enforcement, medical personnel, educators, court staff, service providers and community groups

The VAU, established in 1989, provides comprehensive direct services to crime victims of all crime types in Niagara County. Five Crime Victim Advocates work as liaisons between the victim and law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office to make the criminal justice process easier to navigate. The VAU’s primary mission is to provide comprehensive, specialized services that are tailored to the specific needs of victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse (both physical & sexual), surviving family members of homicide victims, assault, robbery, DWI, arson, elder abuse, human trafficking and property crimes. The unit is funded by New York State Office of Victim Services and Niagara County. Services include:

  • Outreach to explain VAU and New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) services. OVS offers compensation for medical expenses, counseling expenses, funeral costs, loss of wages, and essential personal property to eligible crime victims.
  • Home/hospital/off-site visits (to assist in filing OVS compensation claims, supportive counseling and follow up services)
  • Transportation and accompaniment to police interviews, court proceedings, and medical examinations.
  • Referrals to appropriate services
  • Advocacy on the victim’s behalf with other agencies such as OVS, courts, law enforcement, District Attorney's Office, insurance companies, medical providers, and employers, etc.
  • Crisis intervention provided at the crime scene or hospital (24 hour on-call availability)
  • Telephone and in-person crisis counseling

Cell Phone Donations

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Victim Services works with the 911 Cell Phone Bank, a program endorsed by the National Sheriff’s Association, to collect used cell phones for victims to dial 911. Newer phones in good condition are given to local victims to aid in their safety planning, and the remainder of the phones collected are sent to a distribution center to be refurbished or recycled. If you have a cell phone you would like to donate, please contact the Victim Services at (716)438-3301.

Resources

Local help is available. Agencies throughout Niagara County offer domestic violence (DV) hotlines, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups and assistance in the court system for victims and their families:

Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Lockport (716)438-3301, Niagara Falls (716)286-4570

Victim Assistance Unit (all crime types) Lockport (716)438-3306, Niagara Falls (DV) (716)286-4570

Pinnacle Community Services, (716)285-6984 Hotline (716)299-0909

YWCA of Niagara Frontier, (716)433-6716

Crisis Services, (716)285-3515

NYS Child Abuse Hotline, 1(800)635-1522

* Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Victim Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, immigration status or having a criminal record.

 

 

New York State

The New York State Department of Corrections Inmate Lookup
This Lookup is intended to provide interested parties with information on the status and location of individuals incarcerated in a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) facility. Information is also provided on formerly incarcerated individuals primarily so searches for individuals released provide positive results regarding when and why they were released.  View Info
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services
The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York's public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of our children, families and communities. We will achieve results by setting and enforcing policies, building partnerships, and funding and providing quality services.
View Info
The NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) makes a special effort to ensure that victims of crimes are not forgotten. The Department works to ensure crime victims are aware of their rights with regard to the parole process. To that end, the Department has established the Office of Victim Assistance (OVA), which is responsible for ensuring victims are aware of their rights regarding the parole process, and affording them an opportunity to be heard in connection with the possible release of an incarcerated individual. View Info
New York State Division of Consumer Protection
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection educates and empowers New York’s consumers. Among other duties, the Division resolves thousands of consumer complaints through voluntary mediation each year, enforces the New York State Do Not Call Law, represents ratepayers, and creates policies to help New Yorkers be informed consumers in the marketplace. View Info
The New York State Department of State's Address Confidentiality
The NYS Department of State’s Address Confidentiality Program can help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking who want to shield their actual address. The cost-free program allows victims to keep their address hidden from their perpetrators by using a substitute address in lieu of their actual home, school or work address.  View Info
The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) was created to improve the response of the State and local communities to domestic violence. The OPDV website has a section on “Help for Victims” and also lists NYS Domestic Violence hotlines by county and offers NYS and NYC resources for domestic violence victims, among other things. View Info
The New York State Police Crime Victim Specialist
The New York State Police has a Crime Victim Specialist Program, through which victim advocates provide enhanced services to victims in the State’s rural areas. This program is funded by the Office of Victim Services.   View Info
The New York State Department of Health
The New York State Department of Health funds a rape crisis center (RCC) in every county across the State. These RCCs offer a variety of programs designed to prevent rape and sexual assault and ensure that quality crisis intervention and counseling services, as well as a full range of indicated medical, forensic and support services, are available to victims of rape and sexual assault. View Info
Division of Criminal Justice Services
(DCJS) works with victim assistance professionals, advocates, and law enforcement on a variety of victim issues.   View Info
Inmate Release Notification System
Inmate Release Notification System monitors offenders in New York’s jails so victims can anonymously look up offenders and register to receive notification of change in custody status by phone, email, or text message. This free service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. View Info
The New York State Office of Victim Services
The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) is here to help you in a number of ways as you, a family member, or friend cope with victimization from a crime. View Info

Federal

The Office for Victims of Crime
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is committed to enhancing the Nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and to providing leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. View Info
The Office on Violence Against Woman
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  View Info

Organizations

YWCA on the Niagara Frontier
Specializes in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy  View Info
The Child Advocacy Center
The Child Advocacy Center provides a child-centered facility for a multidisciplinary response to allegations of child abuse and maltreatment. The Center provides a comfortable environment where a child reported as abused can be interviewed, receive a medical evaluation, participate in therapy, and receive support services. View Info
The Red Cross
The Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States  View Info
National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline answers the call to support and shift power back to those affected by relationship abuse. View Info
The National Center for Victims of Crime
The mission of the National Center for Victims of Crime is to forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. We are dedicated to serving individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime. View Info
VINELink
VINE is the nation’s leading victim notification network. It allows survivors, victims of crime, and other concerned citizens to access timely and reliable information about offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons.  View Info