Crime Victim Assistance Contacts & Links

Your county or district attorney has primary jurisdiction to pursue alleged violations of the law in your community. These prosecutors are granted extensive discretion in determining which cases will be prosecuted and how those cases will proceed before a grand jury. This exercise of discretion is not subject to review by the Office of the Attorney General. However, this agency can assist local prosecutors in criminal matters with their consent. Accordingly, we recommend that you consider relaying any concerns to the appropriate county or district attorney.

District and County Attorneys are required to designate a Crime Victim Coordinator for their offices to assist with providing victims with information and notification detailed in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 56.

Law Enforcement Agencies are required to designate a Crime Victim Liaison for their agency to assist with providing victims with information and notification detailed in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 56.

Please contact the Crime Victim Liaison for information on cases before a charge has been filed and the Crime Victim Coordinator, once a case has been referred to the prosecutor’s office.

Victims and their families may also receive information on offender custody and court status by registering with the Texas VINE system in participating counties. To find out if your county is participating in Texas VINE, contact your local enforcement agencies and prosecutors or contact Texas VINE directly.

State Resources

2-11Texas.Org
2-11 is a service of the Health and Human Services Commission's Texas Information and Referral Network.

Child Abuse
Report Child or Elder Abuse or Neglect to the Department of Family and Protective Services at (800) 252-5400 or contact the Texas Abuse Hotline.

You can find information about Children's Advocacy Centers at www.cactx.org. For information about the court-appointed advocate program for abused or neglected children, visit Texas CASA. For information about child abuse or neglect resources and laws, read our brochure, If You Suspect Child Abuse.

Criminal Justice System General Information
The Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas has prepared a general information pamphlet on the Criminal Justice System.

Family Violence
For assistance regarding domestic violence visit the Texas Council on Family Violence or the Texas Advocacy Project for legal solutions to end violence.

You can find additional information through the Texas Attorney General, Crime Victim Services Division and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Victim Services Division

Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Every county in Texas is covered by a MADD affiliate.

Sexual Assault
For information for victims of sexual assault visit The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

Texas VINE
Victims can register with Texas VINE for updated about offender custody and court status.

National Resources

General Information
The US Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime provides information and referrals for all victims of crime, including information for international crime victims and all states' crime victim compensation programs. You can find additional information through the US DOJ.

The National Center for Victims of Crime and National Organization for Victim Assistance provide references and referrals for all types of crime victims, ranging from sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence to identify theft and white-collar crime.

Child Safety
Visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to report information on an Amber alert or for information on internet safety.

Contact the Cyber Tip Line at (800) 843-5678 to report instances of child sexual exploitation on the internet including child pornography, online enticement of children for sex acts, molestation of children outside the family, sex tourism of children, child victims of prostitution, and unsolicited obscene material or threats sent to a child on the internet.

RAINN
The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims, and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Call them toll-free at (800) 656-HOPE.

Stalking
The National Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Resource Center provides helpful information for victims of stalking.

Parents of Murdered Children
For support and assistance to family and friends of homicide victims, including on-going emotional support, education, prevention, advocacy, and awareness, visit www.pomc.com. POMC has many local chapters throughout Texas and the country.

Security on Campus:
For information about crime victim assistance for crimes occuring on a college or university campus and what to do if you become a victim of campus sexual assault, see www.securityoncampus.org.