• Two 24-hour emergency shelters for survivors & families
• Rapid re-housing programs for survivors moving out of shelter
• Advocacy & accompaniment through court, medical, & law enforcement procedures
• Individual counseling
• Support groups for adult survivors of domestic violence
• Safety planning
• Operation of Child Advocacy Center of Herkimer County
  Free Confidential 24/7 Hotline Call 315-866-4120 for Child Advocacy and Sexual Violence in Herkimer County
• Advocates co-located at Oneida County Child Protective Services (CPS) and Oneida Co. Child Advocacy Center. Free Confidential 24/7 Hotline Call 315-797-7740 for Domestic and Sexual Violence.
• Advocacy & accompaniment for college & university students through Title IX legislature & procedures
• Information & referrals to additional services (including social services, housing, employment assistance, etc.)
• Assistance with crime victim compensation procedures through the Office of Victim Services (OVS)
• Prevention education & outreach initiatives

We serve all survivors regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, income, profession, ability, and/or age.

In New York State you have the Right to:

• A free copy of the police report, even if there was no physical injury.
• Be notified of criminal proceedings. Victims who provide a current address and telephone number to the prosecutor have the right to be notified of the accused’s arrest; first appearance before a judge; release from jail while the criminal proceeding is pending; entry of a guilty plea, trial and sentencing; maximum and minimum terms of imprisonment if the offender is sentenced to prison; and any parole hearing dates.
• Make a victim impact statement at the time of sentencing in a felony case. This statement allows victims to express and share their feelings about the crime and how the crime has impacted them and their families.
• Obtain a waiver of fees for replacing driver’s license, permit, registration and license plates that were lost or stolen as a result of a crime.
• Have law enforcement and the prosecutor inform employers that the criminal case may require work absences or to explain the circumstances of the crime to creditors.
• Be free of penalty by an employer. When appearing as a witness in a criminal proceeding, when consulting with prosecutors or exercising other rights under the law. A violation of this law by an employer is a B misdemeanor.
• File for victim compensation and assistance with the New York State Office of Victim Services. Victims suffering physical injury or relatives of murder victims are entitled to out-ofpocket expenses incurred as a result of the crime. These expenses may include the repair or replacement of damaged property, payments for loss of earnings or support, medical and counseling bills, crime scene cleanup or funeral expenses. Crime victims may also be eligible for transportation expenses incurred for necessary court appearances. Victims of kidnapping, stalking and unlawful imprisonment may be eligible for an award to cover loss of earnings or support, unreimbursed costs for counseling, rehabilitative training and the costs of damaged essential personal property and security devices. Claims must be filed within one year of the crime or within one year of the victim’s death. You can obtain a claim form from the police, the prosecutor, a hospital emergency room, the Office of Victim Services or from the Office of the Attorney General. Assistance is also available from other programs such as rape crisis centers and domestic violence and child abuse programs. Ask the prosecutor’s office for referrals. 9. 10.
• Request restitution and have the prosecutor present this request in court. A victim may ask the defendant to pay back what was lost due to the crime. The restitution amount is based on any proof a victim might have (records, receipts) of any items the victim has lost as a result of the crime. Restitution may be a part of the defendant’s sentencing.
• Be free from intimidation, threats or harassment. Intimidating a victim or a witness is a felony, apart from any charges the accused may already face. If you are threatened or your property is damaged by anyone connected to your case, you should contact the prosecutor’s office and law enforcement immediately. In cases involving family violence and/or other violence, an order of protection may be requested.
• Receive notice of discharge, release or escape of an offender from a correctional facility. The prosecutor has a form to be completed in order that you can stay informed. The New York Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system provides up-to-date information about the custody status of offenders via the telephone or internet. Crime victims and other New Yorkers can call (888) VINE-4NY (888-846-3469) or connect to vinelink.com to secure information about incarcerated defendants. By providing an inmate’s identification number or date of birth, which you can obtain from the prosecutor, you can learn sentencing and release information. You may also register with VINE for automatic notification by telephone when the inmate is released.

VINE is a proactive notification system that sends you an automatic alert anytime an offender’s custody status changes. Information is available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You will be notified about the release, transfer, escape, or death of an offender by text message, phone call, email/or TTY.

VINE Service will keep trying to reach you. If there’s no answer or the line is busy, VINE will continue to call every half hour for 48 hours. VINE will leave a message on an answering machine but will continue to call every two hours up to 48 hours, or until your preselected 4 digits, P I N  #  1 2 3 4 is entered to stop the notification calls.

By providing an inmate’s identification number or date of birth, which you can obtain from the prosecutor, you can learn sentencing and release information. You may also register with VINE for automatic notification by telephone when the inmate is released.

For more information about VINE, you can call 1-888-263-8463, or register at www.vinelink.com. You can also reach out to the Victim Services Unit main line for additional enrollments or modifications to the existing notification.

The Constitution of the State of Colorado and the laws of the state [Section 24-4.1-302(1) C.R.S]
guarantee certain rights to victims of the following criminal acts:

• Murder–1st and 2nd Degree; Manslaughter;
• Criminally Negligent Homicide; Vehicular Homicide or Vehicular Assault;
• Crime of careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury;
• Assault—1st, 2nd or 3rd Degree;
• Harassment Bias Motivated;
• Menacing;
• Kidnapping– 1st and 2nd Degree;
• Sexual Assault (all) & Unlawful Sexual Contact;
• Sexual Assault on a Child;
• Invasion of Privacy for Sexual Gratification;
• Robbery & Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Robbery of a Controlled Substance;
• 1st degree Arson 18-4-102
• Criminal Invasion of Privacy 18-7-801
• Incest and Aggravated Incest;
• Child Abuse;
• Sexual Exploitation of a Child;
• Crimes against at-risk adults or juveniles;
• Any crime with an underlying factual basis of Domestic Violence;
• Stalking;
• A bias motivated crime - harassment, ethnic intimidation;
• Ethnic Intimidation;
• Careless driving resulting in death;
• Failure to stop at an accident that results in death or serious injury of another person;
• Retaliation against or tampering with a witness, victim, judge, prosecutor, juror or elected official;
• Intimidation and Aggravated Intimidation of a victim or witness;
• Indecent Exposure;
• Violation of a Protection Order issued against a person charged w/ Sexual Assault or Stalking;
• Human Trafficking in Adults and Children;
• Burglary—1st Degree and 2nd Degree
• Any attempt, conspiracy, solicitation, or accessory of the above listed crimes;
• Crimes involving Child Prostitution
• Posting private image for harassment or pecuniary gain;

If a victim is deceased or incapacitated, these rights may be exercised by the victim’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, significant other, or other lawful representative.

Victims of crimes that happen in New York State may be eligible to get reimbursed for certain crime-related, out-of-pocket expenses. New York State residents who are victims of terrorism in other countries may also be eligible. Eligibility for compensation depends on the type of crime that occurred, and for certain types of crimes, there may be additional age or disability requirements. Please contact OVS at the information listed below, or find a Victim Assistance Provider to see if you are eligible for compensation. 

Contact us by phone:

OVS Main Number 1-800-247-8035

Albany Office 518-457-8727

Brooklyn Office 718-923-4325

Contact us by email:

OVSInfo@ovs.ny.gov

** OVS does not require a Social Security Number for eligibility for victim compensation

You can Apply online at: https://ovs.ny.gov/victim-compensation

Types of Compensation Available

Eligible victims of crime may receive compensation for certain crime-related, out-of-pocket expenses. 

Not all victims of crime will be eligible for all types of compensation. Please contact OVS via the information listed at the bottom of this page to learn more.  

This is a list of the types of compensation OVS can provide: 

• Crime-related, out-of-pocket medical and counseling expenses
• Repair or replacement of essential personal property lost, damaged, or destroyed as the direct result of a crime (up to $100 for cash or gift card losses per claim; up to $2,500 total per claim) 
• Funeral and burial expenses (up to $6,000)
• Relocation, moving, and storage costs (up to $2,500)
• Lost earnings or loss of support (up to $30,000) 
• Lost savings of vulnerable elderly or incompetent persons (up to $30,000)
• Transportation for crime-related medical appointments or necessary court appearances 
• Employment-related transportation expenses due to a victim’s crime-related physical injury (up to $2,500) 
• Crime scene cleanup expenses and/or cost of securing a crime scene (up to $2,500) 
• The cost of residing at or utilizing the services of a domestic violence shelter
• Occupational rehabilitation expenses
• Home and vehicle modifications 
• Attorney fees for representation before the agency and/or before an appellate court, upon judicial review of the victim’s OVS claim (up to $1,000) 

Protection or Restraining Orders can help stop harassment, retaliation, intimidation and other specific acts against everyone named in the restraining order as a “Protected Person.” For more information on protection orders and how to file contact our Victim Services Unit with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office at 719-583-6434 or 719-583-4358. You can also reach the Victim Services Unit at the Pueblo Police Department at 719-553-2460.

Getting a Protection Order | Colorado Judicial Branch

For more information on obtaining a copy of your case report, please contact the Victim Services Unit or to the Records Unit with the Law Enforcement Agency of your jurisdiction. 

For information about the prosecution of your case, you can contact the District Attorney’s Office at 315-798-5766. District Attorney's Office can give you information about court dates and locations, updates on your court case, instructions on how to give your input on the case, and referrals to community agencies.

Oneida County Attorney’s Office website.

As a victim of a violent crime, you have certain Constitutional and statutory rights. If you feel your rights are not honored, you can make a complaint.

Please attempt to address your concerns locally by contacting the agency handling your case.

If you feel you are unable to address your concerns at the local level or your efforts to resolve your concern have been unsuccessful, and you wish to file a complaint tap this link and follow the instructions on the NYS Attorney General page.

State Resources

Crime Victims Assistance
ag.ny.gov/resources/individuals/policing-issues/victims-rights
1-877-462-4697

New York State Office of Victim Services 
ovs.ny.gov 
1-800-247-8035

New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline
ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps 
1-800-342-3720

New York State Domestic Violence Hotline
opdv.ny.gov 
1-800-942-6906

New York State Office for the Aging Senior Citizen Hotline
aging.ny.gov 
1-844-697-6321

Utica Police Department

Oneida County Sheriff's Office

NYS Police

Oriskany Police Department

Whitesboro

Vernon

New Hartford

New York Mills

Kirkland

Rome

Sherrill

Yorkville

Booneville

Camden