Helping Crime Victims

Crime Victims Assistance Line: 1-800-228-3368 (Voice) 1-877-398-1130 (TTY)

Violent crime is a senseless, often random act, and it is far too common in today’s society. It is no longer enough to ensure that offenders receive the harshest punishment under the law. Victims and their families need support as they attempt to rebuild lives torn apart by tragedy.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has made it a priority to provide services to help victims meet their challenges and regain peace of mind. Programs administered by the Crime Victim Services Division include:

The Illinois Crime Victim Compensation Program provides direct financial
assistance to innocent victims of violent crime to reimburse out-of-pocket expenses related to the crime.

The Married Families Domestic Violence Fund provides funding for legal advocacy, legal assistance, and legal services to married and formerly married victims of domestic violence. This fund is awarded from a portion of marriage license fees collected after June 1, 2008. Any public or private not-for-profit agency that provides services to victims of domestic violence may apply to the Illinois Attorney General for funding from the Married Families Domestic Violence Fund.

The Violent Crime Victim Assistance (VCVA) Program provides grants to victim and witness assistance programs throughout the state. Here, you will find links to the Quarterly Report, Eligibility Requirements, List of Grantees, RFP Information, and Application Kits.

The Automated Victim Notification (AVN) System allows crime victims throughout Illinois to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day via telephone, Web, or e-mail.

The Statewide Victim Assistance Program provides services to crime victims and witnesses whose cases are prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General, including Sexually Violent Persons petitions. The program is also available to the 102 state’s attorneys across Illinois.

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program trains registered nurses and other professionals who treat and assist sexual assault patients to provide a higher level of care and reduce re-traumatization of victims.

The Illinois Victim Assistance Academy is a week-long intensive course of study for crime victim service providers and law enforcement personnel. The IVAA is designed to improve the quality and consistency of victim services in Illinois.

OTHER RESOURCES

Workshops, Training & Conferences: Check out upcoming workshops, trainings, and conferences providing resources and information to assist and support crime victims in Illinois.

Downloadable Resources: Download various Crime Victim Services Division brochures, fact sheets, and applications.

Links: Check out this list of links to various related Web sites.

E-newsletter Archives :

• August 2006
• October 2006
• December 2006
• February 2007
• April 2007
• June 2007
• August 2007
• October 2007

For additional information on the Crime Victim Services Division, please contact: