Vision 21: Using Technology To Expand Access to Victim Services

• NCJ Number: 250674
• Date Published: June 2017
• Length: 2 pages
• Publication Series: OVC Fact Sheets
• Agencies: OVC
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description; Grants and Funding

Annotation

This brief report describes a project of Vision 21 - a comprehensive effort by the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime to expand the vision and impact of the crime-victim-assistance field - that provides funding to nonprofit organizations using technology creatively to interact directly with crime victims in the United States and Americans victimized abroad.

Abstract

This report describes how six organizations that have received this funding are using technology in their services to crime victims. The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center is using technology in expanding its international access to those abroad who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. The Identity Theft Resource Center has used the funding to increase the capacity of its call line and develop its ID Theft Help Mobile App. The National Center for Victims of Crime Launched VictimConnect, a national service that combines a phone-based hotline with a web and online chat interface with resources for crime victims. The National Domestic Violence Hotline used its funding to strengthen its capacity by adding staff, using its interactive website in innovativ4e ways, and improving its mobile platform. The National Network To End Domestic Violence implemented the "Apoyo Tecnologico" Project, which provides Spanish-speaking women with access to the resources of a website. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network used its funding to increase staff at the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, offer confidential support for Spanish-speaking survivors of sexual assault, and implement the Spanish HelpRoom.