Many victims are forced to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system and understand their legal rights while also coping with injuries, financial losses, trauma or grief.
Virginia Victim Assistance Network is there to be a voice for victims across the commonwealth, including the advocates who work with them.
Established in the mid-1980’s, VVAN is a statewide nonprofit network that assists victims of crime with resources and support, fights for policy changes and trains additional victim advocates to amplify their efforts.
Offering helplines and support groups
One of VVAN’s primary functions is organizing helplines and support groups, which helps bridge the gap to critical information and connects them to a community of people navigating similar challenges.
The Victim Assistance Helpline is available to victims of any crime in Virginia. Its primary function is to support victims through education and legal advice.
“The Victim Assistance Helpline was created to provide victims a single source of truth, giving them access to everything they need when it comes to their rights,” said Kate Hanger, executive director of Virginia Victim Assistance Network.
There also is a separate, focused helpline to support those who have been impacted by human trafficking. In addition to its helplines, VVAN hosts a Homicide Support Peer Group, helping serve families of homicide victims as they grieve.
“The grief that comes from Homicide loss is so specific,” Hanger said. “Those survivors really deserve special care and a community in which they can heal together.”
Advocating for change and protection
In addition to serving victims directly, VVAN helps advocate for the rights of victims by lobbying for system reform.
One example, VVAN has testified against laws that revise the sentences of incarcerated individuals without the proper mechanisms in place to notify their victims.
“The problem is that, currently, only 23% of the inmates in Virginia’s Department of Corrections have a victim or survivor of that crime registered for notification,” Hanger said. “It’s up to us to explain that these notifications, in the way that they’re promised, just aren’t possible. It’s a real public safety concern that people are let out without any way to prepare the victims.”
The involvement of VVAN in promoting or challenging legislation is crucial in protecting victims’ rights, as the legislature doesn’t always consider the full scope of implications.
Training supportive professionals
Another key role for VVAN is educating and developing advocates who wish to work with victims directly. Despite how crucial this work is in helping victims, it can be difficult for young professionals to break into the field.
There aren’t any minimum education and training requirements for victim advocates, unlike other careers written in the law. According to Hanger, the absence of clear professional standards, career advancement opportunities and legal protections has contributed to a nationwide shortage of victim advocates.
“It’s unfortunate, and it falls on us to give advocates the information they need to support victims and help keep them safe and supported during the legal process,” Hanger said.
VVAN offers online and in-person trainings throughout the year and hosts an annual conference to cover important, emergent issues facing victims of crime each November.
Building a safer and stronger community
Hanger wants victims to know that VVAN is available to help them in any way possible, whether it’s providing education or referrals to local resources.
“All of our services are free and confidential,” Hanger said. “We never pressure people to report to law enforcement because, for some people, that actually puts them in more danger due to the nature of their circumstances.”
If victims can access the resources they need, they have a greater chance of breaking free from the cycle of violence.
“Good victim advocacy is crime prevention at its core,” Hanger said.
For more information, visit the Virginia Victim Assistance Network website.
