Resources

Returning and Healing Toolkit

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Recommendations for Rape Crisis Centers working with sexual violence survivors coming home from incarceration The Returning and Healing Toolkit is a roadmap to prepare mainstream rape crisis centers/sexual violence prevention agencies to serve the needs...

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Returning and Healing Toolkit

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center

Recommendations for Rape Crisis Centers working with sexual violence survivors coming home from incarceration

The Returning and Healing Toolkit is a roadmap to prepare mainstream rape crisis centers/sexual violence prevention agencies to serve the needs of formerly incarcerated survivors. It provides background information about incarceration and reentry, and a set of steps for agencies to take in order to be accessible for this population.

Sexual Trauma in the Returning Population and Talking About Sexual Violence

This curriculum is a two-part series for advocates that support reentering people successfully re-integrate into their communities after incarceration. The first module will help advocates understand the prevalence and impact of sexual violence on the reentering population. The second introduces basic trauma-informed questions advocates can use in their intakes processes, in order to determine if sexual trauma is a challenge their clients want help to address.

Supplemental Questions about Sexual Violence

This is a set of three tip sheets that explain how reentry agencies can ask basic, trauma-informed questions to their clients in order to determine if sexual violence is an issue they want to address. These tips sheets work in conjunction with the Returning and Healing training curriculum.

Other
Adapting and Sustaining Services for Formerly Incarcerated Survivors During COVID-19: A Panel Discussion

Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people are at high risk for contracting the coronavirus and often have little or no access to reliable and consistent health care services. The health risks—coupled with the challenge of practicing social distancing in jails and...
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Adapting and Sustaining Services for Formerly Incarcerated Survivors During COVID-19: A Panel Discussion

Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people are at high risk for contracting the coronavirus and often have little or no access to reliable and consistent health care services. The health risks—coupled with the challenge of practicing social distancing in jails and prisons—have led correctional facilities around the country, particularly local jails, to accelerate releases. In many cases, however, people are returning home to the challenging, new reality of life during a global pandemic with very little access to the supportive services they might normally get during their reentry period (e.g., assistance with housing, employment, and transportation). Accessing healing services—often difficult under normal circumstances—appears to be even more challenging, as most providers have shifted to remote service provision, and not all survivors have access to reliable technology to avail themselves of remote services.

This panel discussion is about the emerging and enduring needs of formerly incarcerated survivors and how some service providers are adapting their services to meet those needs.

Panelists:

Leon EL-Alamin from the M.A.D.E. Institute in Flint, Michigan

Angel Tomeo Sam from The Bail Project in Spokane, Washington

Colleen Smith from Newark Community Solutions in New Jersey

Webinar Recording

Vera Institute of Justice
COVID-19 Impact Briefs

The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims conducted a series of listening sessions to unearth the impact the COVID-19 health crisis is having on underserved victims of crime and better resource the crime victim services field to respond to those...

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COVID-19 Impact Briefs

The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims conducted a series of listening sessions to unearth the impact the COVID-19 health crisis is having on underserved victims of crime and better resource the crime victim services field to respond to those needs. From these listening sessions, the National Resource Center and our Partners created a series of COVID-19 Survivor Impact Briefs that summarize the issues and strategies that emerged.

Casa de Esperanza and Common Justice and FORGE, Inc. and National Children's Advocacy Center and National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) and Vera Institute of Justice and Women of Color Network, Inc.
Translating Justice eLearning Course

This eLearning course provides the entire Translating Justice Curriculum in an interactive, online course format. The Translating Justice Initiative was created to develop a comprehensive language access curriculum addressing the training needs of crime victim service providers around language...

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Translating Justice eLearning Course

This eLearning course provides the entire Translating Justice Curriculum in an interactive, online course format. The Translating Justice Initiative was created to develop a comprehensive language access curriculum addressing the training needs of crime victim service providers around language access for people with limited English proficiency and people who are Deaf and hard of hearing. This online course covers the entire seven-module curriculum: Language Access and Why It Matters; Providing Meaningful Access: Where to Start; Language Access Planning; Language Access Needs Assessment and Resources; Working with Interpreters: Enhancing Communications with Individuals with Limited English Proficiency and Individuals Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Providing a Bridge Between Languages: Translation, Technology, and Other Assistive Language Needs; and Language Access Planning: Monitoring and Quality Assurance.

This eLearning platform provides accessible and interactive training in a wide variety of subject areas. Courses are available to take on your own schedule, at your own pace, from your own computer, and free of charge.

National Center for Victims of Crime and Vera Institute of Justice
Older Victims of Crime Trainers and Educators Forum

A main priority identified in the victim advocacy and justice fields was a need for support for increasing capacity to train on issues related to older victims of crime and abuse, and in particular older victims with limited access to...

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Older Victims of Crime Trainers and Educators Forum

A main priority identified in the victim advocacy and justice fields was a need for support for increasing capacity to train on issues related to older victims of crime and abuse, and in particular older victims with limited access to healing and justice services due to systemic inequity, racism, homophobia, ageism, and other operationalized oppressions.

The “Older Victims of Crime Trainers and Educators Forum” was created for current and emerging trainers and educators to have a virtual peer-to-peer exchange where you can:

• learn from each other;
• get feedback on new ideas;
• share educational and training resources;
• discuss helpful tips and tools to use in your training work; and
• make connections on training topics impacting older crime victims.

The aim of this forum is to create dialogue, learn from one another, build on tested approaches, and explore new ideas on how the field can equitably support older victims of crime.

On the forum you can join conversations about:

• Effective Approaches to Training and Facilitation
• Ageism and its Impact on Accessing Services
• Advancing Principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Considerations for Accessibility
• Storytelling/Centering the Voices of Older Crime Victims
• Resilience
• Selected Resources and Statistics from the Crime Victims Field
• Ongoing/Upcoming Training Opportunities
• Other topics community members want to explore!

Tutorial

To register for the forum visit:

NCALL Older Victims of Crime Trainers and Educators Forum

National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL)
How Advocates, Law Enforcement, and Attorneys Can Meet the Accommodation Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people are victims of violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities. They also experience some of the greatest obstacles to accessing justice and healing services. These barriers make it difficult, if...

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How Advocates, Law Enforcement, and Attorneys Can Meet the Accommodation Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people are victims of violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities. They also experience some of the greatest obstacles to accessing justice and healing services. These barriers make it difficult, if not impossible, to fully participate in the legal system or heal from the trauma they’ve experienced. An important way to increase access to justice, safety, and healing opportunities is by providing people with accommodations.

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates, Attorneys, and Law Enforcement Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities was created in response to conversations with advocates and criminal justice professionals, many of whom are open to asking about accommodations, but don’t know how and are worried about saying the wrong thing. This webinar provides an overview of the vision for the toolkit, illuminates key components, and leaves participants with a roadmap for next steps for their organization.

Webinar Recording

Vera Institute of Justice
Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates, Attorneys, and Law Enforcement Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take...
<< Back

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates, Attorneys, and Law Enforcement Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take to make their services more accessible and welcoming for survivors with disabilities and Deaf victims, including asking every victim if they need accommodations to participate in services or the legal system.

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates, Attorneys, and Law Enforcement Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities was created in response to conversations with professionals working with survivors, many of whom are open to asking about accommodations, but don’t know how and are worried about saying the wrong thing. The toolkit lays out four simple steps for providing accommodations to survivors with disabilities, and includes sample language you can use when talking to survivors. It also outlines what your agency needs to have in place for staff to be able to provide accommodations as soon as survivors request them.

What’s Available

Just Ask is comprised of three audience-specific toolkits:

Advocate Toolkit

Attorney and Prosecutor Toolkit

Law Enforcement Toolkit

Asking about Accommodations: An Introduction

Acknowledgements

This toolkit was shaped by people with disabilities and disability advocates. Vera would like to thank Max Barrows, Leigh Ann Davis, Jasmine D’Addario-Fobian, Roberta Eaton, Suzanne Hopkins, Jo Johnson, Keith Jones, Shell Schwartz, and Olga Trujillo for their insights and contributions as Expert Workgroup Members for the National Resource Center on Reaching Victims. Nancy Smith and Katie Allen with the Vera Institute of Justice were also instrumental in developing this toolkit.

A Note About Language

The terms victim and survivor are used interchangeably throughout this toolkit, based on the different ways in which people who have experienced crime identify. When working with people whose lives have been touched by crime, best practice is to reflect the language they use to identify themselves.

Vera Institute of Justice
Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take...

<< Back

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take to make their services more accessible and welcoming for survivors with disabilities and Deaf victims, including asking every victim if they need accommodations to participate in services or the legal system.

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities lays out four simple steps for providing accommodations to survivors with disabilities, and includes sample language you can use when talking to survivors. It also outlines what your agency needs to have in place for staff to be able to provide accommodations as soon as survivors request them.

Asking about Accommodations: An Introduction

The toolkit includes:

Palm Card

The palm card outlines four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, as well as sample questions to ask. It is designed to be carried with you or displayed on your desk and used while working with survivors.

Quick Reference Guide

A companion to the palm cards, the quick reference guide contains detailed information on the four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, including additional recommended language to guide your conversation with victims.

Agency Readiness Guide

These short guides offer recommendations to ensure your agency is prepared to provide accommodations, including creating or revising an accommodations policy, budgeting for access, and building relationships with disability and Deaf service organizations.

Tip Sheet

The tip sheet offers examples of common accommodations survivors may request.

Poster

Designed to be displayed in your office, the poster communicates to people with disabilities your agency’s commitment to providing accommodations. – Downloadable poster coming soon.

Demonstration Video:

Asking about Accommodations: An Instructional Video for Victim Advocates

Vera Institute of Justice
Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Attorneys and Prosecutors Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take...

<< Back

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Attorneys and Prosecutors Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take to make their services more accessible and welcoming for survivors with disabilities and Deaf victims, including asking every victim if they need accommodations to participate in services or the legal system.

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Attorneys and Prosecutors Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities lays out four simple steps for providing accommodations to survivors with disabilities, and includes sample language you can use when talking to survivors. It also outlines what your agency needs to have in place for staff to be able to provide accommodations as soon as survivors request them.

Asking about Accommodations: An Introduction

The toolkit includes:

Palm Card

The palm card outlines four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, as well as sample questions to ask. It is designed to be carried with you or displayed on your desk and used while working with survivors.

Quick Reference Guide

A companion to the palm cards, the quick reference guide contains detailed information on the four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, including additional recommended language to guide your conversation with victims.

Agency Readiness Guide

These short guides offer recommendations to ensure your agency is prepared to provide accommodations, including creating or revising an accommodations policy, budgeting for access, and building relationships with disability and Deaf service organizations.

Tip Sheet

The tip sheet offers examples of common accommodations survivors may request.

Poster

Designed to be displayed in your office, the poster communicates to people with disabilities your agency’s commitment to providing accommodations. – Downloadable poster coming soon.

Demonstration Video

Asking about Accommodations: An Instructional Video for Attorneys

Vera Institute of Justice
Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Law Enforcement Personnel Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take...

<< Back

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Law Enforcement Personnel Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take to make their services more accessible and welcoming for survivors with disabilities and Deaf victims, including asking every victim if they need accommodations to participate in services or the legal system.

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Law Enforcement Personnel Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities lays out four simple steps for providing accommodations to survivors with disabilities, and includes sample language you can use when talking to survivors. It also outlines what your agency needs to have in place for staff to be able to provide accommodations as soon as survivors request them.

Asking about Accommodations: An Introduction

The toolkit includes:

Palm Card

The palm card outlines four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, as well as sample questions to ask. It is designed to be carried with you or displayed on your desk and used while working with survivors.

Quick Reference Guide

A companion to the palm cards, the quick reference guide contains detailed information on the four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, including additional recommended language to guide your conversation with victims.

Agency Readiness Guide

These short guides offer recommendations to ensure your agency is prepared to provide accommodations, including creating or revising an accommodations policy, budgeting for access, and building relationships with disability and Deaf service organizations.

Tip Sheet

The tip sheet offers examples of common accommodations survivors may request.

Poster

Designed to be displayed in your office, the poster communicates to people with disabilities your agency’s commitment to providing accommodations. – Downloadable poster coming soon.

Demonstration Video

Asking about Accommodations: An Instructional Video for Law Enforcement

Vera Institute of Justice