General Crime Program

Imagine a world where you are hurt by crime, your life falls apart, and nobody is there to help you put it back together. Imagine that nobody tells you anything about the criminal case that arises out of your victimization or about the status of the offender. You are barred from the courtroom; you have no opportunity to tell the judge about the devastating impact that the crime has had on you and your family. Imagine feeling totally terrified, with no significant protections offered to increase you feeling of security. This painful scenario may have been a reality years ago. Today in America, victims of crime are afforded both rights and respect.

It often takes a great deal of courage for a victim to take that first step and ask for help.

At Hands of Hope, you can expect to talk to/meet with courteous, empathetic and trained advocates who can help through those early stages of dealing with trauma. Help is available to you whether you are the person victimized, a parent or other relative of a victim, or a partner, friend or co-worker needing support and direction. This may be through our confidential, 24-hour toll-free crisis line, through assistance at the hospital during an exam, in assisting and supporting the victim during court proceedings, information and help filing for an ORDER FOR PROTECTION, HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDER, or CRIME VICTIM REPARATIONS (FINANCIAL HELP FOR CRIME VICTIMS) and/or interviews with law enforcement. Help may also take the form of giving information, helping sort out available options, and making decisions based on the victim's needs and wishes. Emergency assistance may be needed. Appropriate referrals to other services are given when they may be indicated. ALL services are FREE to victims and those who care about them.

Often victims may feel at first that they want to deal with it themselves, or they may have had nowhere to turn when they were victimized. Various life events can bring about renewed difficulties. Hands of Hope can offer listening and supportive counseling in these situations also, as well as appropriate referrals to other services. A contact with Hands of Hope can be a start to the healing process necessary to live your life to the fullest.