Victim Service
Your Rights & Resources
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The Chattanooga Police Department's Victim Services Unit aims to collaborate with law enforcement, investigators, and community partners to offer a comprehensive support network for crime victims. This involves providing direct assistance, ongoing care, advocacy, support through the criminal justice process, and connecting victims with community resources.
If you are a victim of any of the crimes listed below, your right to be informed and participate in all critical stages of the criminal justice process related to that crime is guaranteed by the Tennessee Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. If you are a victim of a crime this site will provide you with information that may be helpful to you during your time of need.
Tap on a box below to access the information which may contain content, phone numbers and links to other resources.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911. If you would like to report a non-emergent crime, please dial our Non-Emergency Line at 423-698-2525.
THE VICTIM SERVICES UNIT is sorry to learn you have been a victim of a crime. You may have experienced injury, loss, confusion, and a disruption in your life. Feelings of shock, disbelief, fear, vulnerability, anger, and frustration may occur. If you have any questions regarding your case, please reach out to our Victim Services Unit and a Victim Services Specialist will assist you as you navigate this process.
VICTIM SERVICES Main Line: 423-643-5351
Address: 3410 Amnicola Hwy | Chattanooga, TN 37406
Email: hwalling@chattanooga.gov
Monday – Friday, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Intake & Assessment
The purpose of the initial intake and assessment is to address presenting concerns in the
individual(s) as well as identify other potential areas of need or service delivery. Assessments
will assist in future Service Mapping with individuals and families served by the Victim Services
unit (VSU).
Follow-up
Follow-up refers to specialized in-person and telephone interactions with individuals aimed at
providing emotional support, empathetic listening, and guidance regarding reactions after the
victimization. These are interactions are designed to meet the specific and individual needs of the crime victim(s).
Information & Referral (Telephone and In-Person)
Telephone Contact/ In-Person Information and Referral refers to contact with the victim(s) during which time services and available support are identified between the victim and their VSU advocate. Information and Referrals will be made in accordance to the needs of the individual. Referrals will be made to the appropriate community agency that provides the requested or required service.
Safety Planning
Safety planning can, and should be, an on-going conversation that Victim Services Personnel have with individuals receiving services from the Victim Services Unit (VSU). This conversation can be informal through follow-up interactions (e.g. “On a scale of 1-10, how safe do you feel currently?) or formalized through a face to face meeting with VSU staff and community agency
representatives, including the City of Chattanooga’s Public Safety Coordinator.
Criminal Justice Support & Advocacy
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Support/Advocacy includes support, assistance, and advocacy
provided to victims at any stage of the criminal or juvenile justice process, also includes post-
sentencing services and support. Additionally, this includes information regarding the criminal
justice process, accompaniment to law enforcement interviews, and case follow-up.
Personal Advocacy & Collaboration
Personal Advocacy & Collaboration refers to assistance with addressing the immediate practical
problems created by the victimization. This includes acting on behalf of the victim with other
service providers to identify barriers and find solutions in order for the crime victim to receive
services, whether from the VSU or another community agency.
Court Accompaniment
Victim Services personnel are available to provide court accompaniment to victims and
secondary victims should an arrest be made in their case. Additionally, VSU personnel can
provide accompaniment to victims and clients when filing an Order of Protection or attending an Order of Protection hearing. It should be noted that VSU personnel are not attorneys and
cannot, nor will they, give legal advice. Should legal advice be requested, VSU personnel will
provide information and referrals regarding the victim’s options, including referrals back to the
District Attorney General’s office (11th Judicial District), local legal clinics or agencies, and/or the Hamilton County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
Crisis Counseling & Intervention
Crisis Counseling refers to specialized in-person crisis intervention, emotional support, guidance, and counseling provided by VSU advocates, Chaplains, and/or CIT Officers of the Chattanooga Police Department. Such counseling may occur:
- At the scene of a crime;
- Immediately after a crime;
- At the first in-person contact between an advocate and a victim, which includes meeting
- the victim in an emergency room, at the CPD Police Service Center, the district attorney’s
- office, community visit, etc.; or
- During in-person or follow-up phone contact for the duration of the crisis experience
Victim’s Compensation Assistance
Assistance in Filing Compensation Claims includes identifying and notifying crime victims of the availability of compensation, referring victims for further assistance to another local program or the Tennessee Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund for on-line applications, providing assistance with application forms and procedures, obtaining necessary documentation, checking on claim status, and advocacy.
Service Mapping
The purpose behind service mapping with Victims/Clients served by the Unit is to identify goals, service needs, and potential activities or action steps to take in order to achieve those goals.
Additionally, service mapping allows for the service provider and recipient to determine who is responsible for which activities as well as which community agencies can provide a service. Victims/Clients of the Unit will actively participate in their service mapping with the VSU advocate assigned to their case.
To Contact the Victim Services Unit (VSU):
Please call (423) 643-5000 and ask to speak with an available advocate.
Crime victims in the State of Tennessee have the following rights:
- The RIGHT to confer with the prosecutor about their case.
- The RIGHT to be free from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system.
- The RIGHT to be at all proceedings where the defendant has the right to be present.
- The RIGHT to be heard, when relevant, at all critical stages of the criminal justice process as defined by the General Assembly.
- The RIGHT to be informed of all proceedings, and of the release, transfer or escape of the accused or convicted person.
- The RIGHT to a speedy trial or disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case after the conviction or sentence.
- The RIGHT to restitution from the offender.
- The RIGHT to know about each of these rights established for victims.
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.
Register to receive automated custody and or court notifications via email, text, or phone call, or check custody status information online at any time.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund was established as a fund of last resort to financially assist innocent victims of violent crime in Tennessee that results in personal injury. In the case of death, dependent family members may be eligible for compensation. Victims and claimants who meet eligibility requirements may be reimbursed for medical expenses, loss of wages, and other unforeseen costs related to the crime.
For more information please go to the Criminal Injuries Compensation website. Additionally, please feel free to contact the Victim Services Unit for further assistance.
To file an order of protection in Hamilton county, you can go to the Hamilton County Courthouse at 625 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37402. For more information you can also call (423) 209-6700.
For more information about the purpose, eligibility, and protections provided through an order of protection, please select the link below.
To report child abuse or neglect in Tennessee, call the Child Abuse Hotline at 877-237-0004.
To make an online report or check the status of a referral please go here: Child Abuse Referral and Tracking.
What happens when I call?
When a person notifies the Department of Children's Services regarding possible abuse or neglect of a child, the Department of Children's Services, Child Abuse Hotline case managers determine how quickly to respond with an investigation. The Child Abuse Hotline will gather sufficient information to determine if the report meets minimal criteria.
The report must meet the following criteria to be accepted for assignment:
- The report pertains to a child under the age 18 years.
- The report alleges harm or imminent risk of harm to the child
- The alleged perpetrator is:
- A parent or caretaker
- A relative or other person living in the home
- An educator, volunteer, employee of recreational/organizational setting who is responsible for the child
Any individual providing treatment, care or supervision for the childFor more information about who should report child abuse, what is child abuse, and possible signs of child abuse or neglect please go here: https://www.kidcentraltn.com/support/crisis-services-for-children/child-abuse.html
To request a copy of the police report you may submit your request online, phone call, or in person.
Online: https://chattanooga.gov/request-and-report/request/police-report
Contact Open Records at Office of the City Attorney (423) 643-8250
In Person:
Office of City Attorney
Suite 200 2nd Floor City Hall Annex
100 E. 11th Street Chattanooga, TN 37402
Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m
The Hamilton County District Attorney’s (HCDA) Office prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that take place in Hamilton county. The District Attorney General and Assistant District Attorneys are responsible for prosecuting more than 50,000 criminal cases filed in Hamilton County each year.
For more information about their office please click here.
The Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program is a statewide address confidentiality program administered by the Office of the Tennessee Secretary of State. It is open to all victims of domestic abuse, stalking, human trafficking, rape, sexual battery, or any other sexual offense who satisfy eligibility and application requirements at no cost. Once a participant has been approved, they are provided with a ‘substitute’ address that can be used by them and their children as their official mailing address for all state and local government purposes, including public school or public benefits enrollment, subject only to a few limited exceptions.
CPD’s Victim Services Unit has certified application assistants to assist with completing applications. For more information please reach out to the Victim Services Unit.
Through the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (VTVPA) of 2000, Congress created the U Visa (U non-immigrant classification) to provide legal status to victims of specified crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal act. The U Visa provides eligible crime victims with nonimmigrant status the ability to temporarily remain in the United States while assisting law enforcement.
Who is eligible for a U Visa? The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may find an applicant eligible for a U Visa if the applicant:
- Is the direct or indirect victim of qualifying criminal activity.
- Has suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity.
- Has been helpful, is helpful, or is likely to be helpful to a Federal, State, or local prosecutor, to a Federal or State judge, to USCIS, or to other Federal, State, or local authorities investigating or prosecuting criminal activity; and
- The criminal activity violated the laws of the United States or occurred in the U.S. or the territories and possessions of the United States.
Additional information can be found through the following link: Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status | USCIS
The Chattanooga Police Department understands the importance of U Visas to crime victims and is dedicated to reviewing and responding to certification requests. If you are an individual with nonimmigrant status and a victim of a qualifying criminal activity that is investigated by the Chattanooga Police Department, you or your representative can email the I-918 Supplement B form to uvisa@chattanooga.gov or mail the form to the Victim Services Unit at 3410 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37406
Para obtener más información sobre las visas U, comuníquese con nuestra Unidad de Servicios para Víctimas al 423-643-5351.
The Chattanooga Police Department and its Victim Services Unit is committed to providing individuals with professional services that are of the highest quality. This is accomplished through trauma informed and victim centered service provision. The Department shall ensure the integrity of the Department and its employees by investigating all allegations of employee misconduct from any source, outside or inside the Department, including third-party and anonymous complaints. Furthermore, the Department has gone to great lengths to provide accessibility to our Internal Affairs Investigators by as many means possible, which includes telephone, mail, email and walk-in access to an office kept at an entirely separate location next to the Office of the Mayor and apart from Police Headquarters.
If a service recipient is not satisfied with services rendered or if they have a complaint they wish to file, they have the right to engage with Chattanooga Police Department’s Office of Internal Affairs (IA).
To file a formal complaint:
A formal complaint may be made over the phone, in-person, or in writing to the Internal Affairs Division or any department employee.
The complaint may be filed in the following ways:
By mailing the complaint to the Office of Internal Affairs located at 100 E. 11th Street, Suite 302, City Hall Annex, Chattanooga, TN 37402. By phone via the office number at (423) 643-6240.
By email: cpdinternalaffairs@chattanooga.gov. By completing the online “Contact Us” submission via the website at https://chattanooga.gov/government/police/internal-affairs
Or in person at the Office of Internal Affairs at 100 E. 11th Street, Suite 302, City Hall Annex, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Walk-in hours are held during traditional office hours, which are 8:30 - 4:30pm, Monday-Friday.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Sheet below for additional information on the investigative process with Internal Affairs.
What are the stages of an internal affairs case? (*In chronological order)
1. Investigation is conducted and the IA Report is submitted to the IA Unit Commander.
2. IA Unit Commander reviews the investigation and makes a Conclusion of Fact, which is based on the preponderance of evidence presented in the investigation.
3. The Conclusion of Fact Report is submitted for review to the Professional Standards Division Commander, who makes a comparison of the employee action to CPD Policy, and then makes a written recommendation of findings on any policy violation.
4. The Assistant Chief in command of the officer being investigated reviews the recommendation of the PSD Commander, indicating his/her own recommendation of findings and discipline for any infractions which are recommended to be sustained.
5. The Administrative Review Committee (ARC) reviews the case, considers the recommendations, and makes its own recommendations to the Deputy Chief and Chief of Police.
6. The Deputy Chief reviews the case and the recommendations from the ARC, further recommending to the Chief of Police a disposition of any findings.
7. The Chief of Police may hold a Disciplinary Hearing, makes a final determination of whether any allegations are to be sustained, and imposes discipline for an officer whom he has determined to have violated policy.
What are possible outcomes?
● Not Sustained – The investigation failed to produce a preponderance of evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation;
● Exonerated – The allegation in fact did occur but the actions of the employee were legal, justified, proper and in conformance with the law and department policy and procedure;
● Unfounded – The allegation concerned an act by a department employee which did not occur; or
● Sustained – The investigation produced a preponderance of evidence to prove the allegation of an act which was determined to be misconduct.
The Chattanooga Police Department's Victim Services Unit is requesting feedback from individuals who have worked with a Victim Services Specialist. We review all survey feedback to improve our response and services to victims. Your name and information will not be associated with your answers. Only a summary of responses will be shared with agency leaders.
Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. You can decide to stop responding to this survey at any time. Completing or not completing this survey will not impact your investigation or ability to work with Chattanooga Police Department or Victim Services or exercise victims’ rights.
Crime Victim Resources
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Moms Demand Action - Gun Violence
Effects of Trauma on Psychological + Physical Health
Hamilton County Dispositions + Court Dates
TN Attorney General Victim Notification of Appeals
TDOC: Victim Services + Parole Notification Request
Community Resources
Grief Support