Victim Services

Information from the Office of Victims of Crime

October is Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Learn about OVC's efforts to support domestic violence survivors and access resources and tools to help raise awareness.
Learn More.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Observed in October

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, OVC highlights the National Elder Fraud Hotline and mobile apps for victims of technology-facilitated identity theft, stalking, and abuse.
Learn more.

Victim Resources

Are You a Victim?

A victim of crime is a person who has suffered physical or emotional injury, or financial loss because of a crime. Victims of crime may have:

been injured in a violent attack
experienced a sexual assault, or
been the subject of a robbery.

Crime often affects more than just the direct victim, click here for full text

Have you ever been a victim or a witness to a crime?

If so, you may be entitled to certain rights under Louisiana's Crime Victim Bill of Rights.

How to Exercise the Rights Granted to You as a Victim and/or Witness

In order for a victim, or designated family member, to be eligible to receive notices and exercise the rights provided by law, the victim or designated family member must complete the Louisiana Victim Notice & Registration Form, which will be filed with the law enforcement agency investigating the offense of which the person is a victim of a crime defined as: Homicide, 1st Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Negligent Homicide, Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Negligent Injuring, 1st Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring, any Sexual Offense or other felony offense defined in L.R.S. 14:2(13). Click here for more information.

How to contact your Victim Assistance Coordinator

Click here for a list of Victim Assistance Coordinators by Judicial District.

Crime Victim Reparations

Victims of violence and their families must deal with emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of crime. The Louisiana Crime Victims Reparations Fund helps innocent victims and their families when they have no other means of paying for the financial cost of crime. The fund is administered by the Crime Victims Reparations Board under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. Click here for a list of Crime Victim Reparations Parish Claim Investigators.

Links and Resources for Victims and Victim Assistance Coordinators

Basic Rights for Crime Victims and Witnesses
Victims Rights Constitutional Article 1 Section 25
Children's Advocacy Centers of Louisiana
Louisiana Address Confidentiality Program
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center
Trends and Issues in Psychology Now
Order more LA Victim Notice and Registration Forms
LDAA's VAC Handbook (members-only password required)

Other Training Opportunities for Victim Assistance Coordinators

VAT Online is a basic victim advocacy web-based training program that offers victim services providers and allied professionals the opportunity to acquire the basic skills and knowledge they need to better assist victims of crime

IMPORTANT UPDATE - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld its 1991 decision in Payne v. Tennessee that allows for victim impact evidence to be heard in death penalty cases. This is an important ruling, as Payne had overturned two previous high court decisions relevant to victim impact statements. You can read a summary article on Kelly v. California from the Los Angeles Times, or view the decision.