National Center for Victims of Crime
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| National Center for Victims of Crime | |
|---|---|
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| Name | National Center for Victims of Crime |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Focus | Victim advocacy, victim rights, victim services |
National Center for Victims of Crime is a nonprofit advocacy organization devoted to advancing the rights and services of victims of crime in the United States. Founded in the mid-1980s, the organization has worked with survivors, legal advocates, lawmakers, and service providers to shape policy, provide training, and mount public awareness campaigns. It operates at the intersection of criminal justice reform, legislative advocacy, and victim support networks.
History
The organization was established in 1985 amid rising public attention following high-profile cases such as the campaigns around Megan's Law, the aftermath of the Central Park jogger case, and legislative efforts like the passage of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984. Early collaborators included figures involved with Office for Victims of Crime, activists from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and attorneys tied to landmark litigation such as Brown v. Board of Education-era civil rights advocacy (through shared networks). During the 1990s, the center expanded programs in parallel with national movements around Violence Against Women Act reauthorizations and responses to incidents like the Columbine High School massacre and the Oklahoma City bombing. In the 2000s and 2010s, partnerships with agencies and institutions—ranging from Department of Justice components to academic centers at Georgetown University and Harvard University—helped codify victim-centered practices. Recent decades saw involvement in policy debates linked to cases such as Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and inquiries connected to #MeToo-era litigations and reforms.
Mission and Programs
The center’s mission emphasizes rights restoration and systemic change, aligning its work with legislative frameworks like Crime Victims' Rights Act and collaborations with entities such as National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Bar Association, and victim service coalitions including National Network to End Domestic Violence and RAINN. Program areas have included training for practitioners who work with survivors from contexts spotlighted by events such as the Boston Marathon bombing, technical assistance related to digital harms highlighted in cases involving platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and specialized outreach informed by research from institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, and University of Pennsylvania. Cross-sector initiatives have connected the organization with philanthropic partners including Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and corporate donors such as Microsoft and Google for programs on online harassment and cybersecurity for victims.
Services and Resources
The center provides direct resources including hotline referrals, legal information, and training curricula used by professionals at Victim Service Providers and advocacy groups like National Domestic Violence Hotline and Safe Horizon. It curates materials used in court-based victim assistance programs influenced by precedents set in cases like Miranda v. Arizona and statutes modeled after Crime Victims' Rights Act. Resource categories have covered topics from trauma-informed care discussed in research at Stanford University to forensic best practices promoted alongside agencies such as FBI and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Educational offerings have been used by staff at hospitals like Johns Hopkins Hospital, campus services at University of California, Berkeley, and municipal victim witness programs linked to prosecutor offices in cities like New York City and Los Angeles.
Advocacy and Policy Work
The organization engages in policy advocacy before bodies including the United States Congress, the Department of Justice, and state legislatures influenced by model laws from groups like National Conference of State Legislatures. Advocacy topics have included restitution policies cited in debates alongside prosecutors from offices such as the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and defense perspectives from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. It has filed amicus briefs in appellate litigation reminiscent of arguments in matters before the Supreme Court of the United States and supported reauthorizations of major statutes echoing actions taken by coalitions including Victim Rights Law Center and Legal Momentum. Policy reports have drawn on comparative models from international organizations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and networks including European Court of Human Rights practice summaries.
Notable Campaigns and Initiatives
Notable initiatives have included national public education campaigns paralleling outreach seen in responses to the Columbine High School massacre and post-disaster advocacy after events like Hurricane Katrina. Technology-focused initiatives addressed online abuse similar to policy responses by Twitter and legislative attention comparable to hearings led by committees such as the Senate Judiciary Committee. Campaigns to expand services on college campuses referenced research from U.S. Department of Education Title IX enforcement and collaborations with organizations like Know Your IX. Legislative advocacy efforts have tracked reauthorization efforts akin to those for the Violence Against Women Act and have coordinated with coalitions including Everytown for Gun Safety on victim-centered gun violence prevention measures.
Structure and Funding
The organization is structured with a board of directors composed of leaders from advocacy groups such as National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, legal experts from firms involved in high-profile litigation like Sullivan & Cromwell, and survivors’ representatives drawn from networks including Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Staff divisions include policy, training, victim services, and development, mirroring organizational models at nonprofits like American Red Cross and United Way. Funding historically has come from a mix of federal grants administered by Office for Victims of Crime, foundation support from entities like Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation, and corporate philanthropy similar to grants from Adobe and PayPal for technology safety work.