In 2011, there were over 35,000 reported crimes in the nation’s capital. The crimes vary from aggravated assaults, to identity thefts, domestic violence, and motor vehicle thefts.
A crime victim’s suffering has a ripple effect on the family, friends, neighborhood, and the larger community. Without a coordinated effort to address the victim’s needs–legal, mental health, security, housing–the victim can, and often does, feel helpless.
Network for Victim Recovery of DC aims to change the impact of victimization by providing holistic, comprehensive services to all crime victims in DC. By meeting a victim where they are at, NVRDC staff provides civil and criminal legal services, advocacy, and case management. NVRDC also runs the Sexual Assault Crisis Response Project in providing advocacy and case management to all sexual assault survivors in the District.
Started in 2012, NVRDC founders sought to create an organization to create a seamless network of referrals and services to all crime victims.
NVRDC is motivated by three guiding principles:
- The belief that survivors of crime must have a welcoming place to go in order to learn of their rights and enjoy a supportive and empowering environment as they process their experiences and determine how to respond to the crime;
- The commitment to a holistic model of victim services to assist victims of all types of crime; and
- The understanding that research has affirmatively shown that legal services provided with supportive counseling and case management services provide a greater benefit to survivors who are participating in the civil or criminal justice process.
NVRDC doesn’t do this alone. The staff reaches out to community-based organizations, faith-based communities, law firms, businesses, government agencies to get assistance. By strengthening DC’s safety net for crime victims, NVRDC assists in rebuilding families, communities, and the nation’s capital.
reach out. rise up.
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Grapplers Wanting to Support Survivors of
Sexual Violence
In light of recent tragedies in the grappling community, the SoCal Women BJJ community thought it appropriate to hold a fundraiser to inspire continued awareness and to reach out to women affected by similar circumstances. Grapplethon 2013 will be held Saturday, June 8 from 12-6 PM at Bakersfield Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Women from all academies and ranks are welcome to participate and encouraged to collect donations. Show your support of survivors of sexual assault by donating below to Grapplethon 2013!
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Are you a local business looking for a way to support services for survivors of Sexual Assault?
Learn more about how you can promote prevention and awareness of sexual assault during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and how to participate in NVRDC’s Raise the Bars Campaign.
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