Finding an Advocate

California Law and Victims’ Rights

California Law provides crime victims with important rights. If you are the victim of crime, you may be entitled to the assistance of a victim advocate who can answer many of the questions you might have about the criminal justice system.

Victim Advocates can assist you with:

Explaining what information you are entitled to receive while proceedings are pending
Assisting in applying for restitution to compensate you for crime-related losses
Communicating with the prosecution
Receiving victim support services
Helping you prepare a victim impact statement before an offender is sentenced

Find Support

Surviving a violent crime is difficult, and while the crime may only have taken seconds or minutes, the healing process can take quite a while. The road traveled in the aftermath is slightly different for everyone, but we all need help and understanding along the way. It will be important for you to find support during your healing process. Talk with friends, family, a therapist, a support group, or other survivors in the Connect with Others section of the Witness Justice site. If you need immediate help, you may want to call a hotline for anonymous support.

Some hotlines include:

Rainn National Sexual Assault Free Confidential hotline
- (800) 656-HOPE
Victims of Crime Resource Center
- (800) 842-8467
- victimsofcrime.org
National Center for Victims of Crime
- (855) 4-VICTIM / (855) 484-2846
- victimconnect.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
- (800)799-SAFE
- (800)799-7233 and (800) 787-3224 (TDD)
- thehotline.org
National Hopeline Network
- (800) SUICIDE, (800) 784-2433
- hopeline.com
Love is Respect (National Dating Abuse Calling Line)
- (866) 331-9474
- loveisrespect.org
Rape Abuse & Incest National Network
- (800) 646-HOPE (4673)