Resources for victims in California

Find a Victim Witness Assistance Center in your county

A Victim Advocate can give you information about your rights, and help you make requests for information and notifications during the criminal case. They are not attorneys, and their services are not confidential.

Know your rights

The California Constitution gives rights and protections to crime victims and their families. Some of these rights are automatic, but the victim may need to request (ask for) other rights, sometimes in writing.

• Get free help and advocacy from the Victim Legal Resource Center.
  Available M-F 7am-5pm PT; Live Chat is available on the website. Phone or text: 1-800-VICTIMS (842-8467).
• The Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008 provides all victims with rights and due process. Reference cards with a list of these rights are available in English, Spanish, and many other languages.
• The Victims' Rights page explains the rights a victim can access at different stages of a criminal case.
• Contact the CA Attorney General’s Office – Victim Services Unit. If the defendant appeals their conviction, the Victim Services Unit can give you information about your rights and help you make requests for information and notifications.

Find a defendant or get notified about their case

• Victim Information and Notification (VINE) (in Spanish)
  Victims in most California counties can register to get notified of changes in where a defendant is housed through VINE.
• CDCR Inmate Locator
  Find an inmate who is serving their sentence in a California state prison.
• Use the Request for Criminal Appeal Status form to give updated contact information for notifications about a criminal appeal.
• If the defendant is serving their sentence in California state prison, contact the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services. You can use the Request for Victim Services form (CDCR 1707), (in Spanish) to give updated contact information for notifications about the defendant’s location.
• California Sheriff's Offices
• California Law Enforcement Agencies (including local police departments)

Apply for compensation for financial loss after a crime

• California Victim Compensation
  1-800-777-9229. Find out if you qualify and apply for compensation online.
• If the judge did not sign an Order for Victim Restitution (CR-110), you can talk with a Victim Witness Assistance Center or the Victim Legal Resource Center to find out how to ask for a court order for restitution.
• File a lawsuit against the defendant to cover money you’ve lost because of the crime:
  • For amounts up to $10,000, you can file a Small Claims case.
  • For amounts over $10,000, you can file a Civil Law case.

• Domestic Violence Restraining Order Information
• Civil Harassment Restraining Order Information
• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  1-800-799-7233. Get support, find local resources and safety tips. 
  TDD: 1-800-787-3224
• National Sexual Assault Hotline
  Chat 24/7 online or by phone: 1-800-656-4673. Confidential support.
• National Trafficking Hotline
  Chat 24/7 online, by text to 233733 or by phone: 1-888-373-7888, TTY: 711. Confidential support.
• Stalking Hotline
  Chat 24/7 by text or by phone: 1-855-484-2846.
• Safe at Home
  A free confidential address program for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and elder and dependent adult abuse.
• Housing protections: California Code of Civil Procedure 1946.7 provides survivors of domestic violence special protections. View in English or in Spanish.
• Work protections: Information on workplace rights and protections for survivors of domestic violence, including the right to take time off to go to court or seek medical treatment.
• Sexual Assault Survivor's Bill of Rights: An overview of the the key rights, options, and resources for survivor's of sexual assault.

• Elder Abuse Restraining Order Information
• Protecting Elder or Dependent Adults Resources page

Some immigrant victims of crime may be eligible to apply for a U visa, a T visa, or VAWA. Learn more about your options and rights and get legal help: in English or in Spanish.

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline
  Call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  Chat 24/7 online. TTY: Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255.
• Nacional de Prevención de Suicidio
  Llama 1-888-628-9454 24/7.
• Veterans Crisis Line
  Call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) and press "1" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  Chat 24/7 online or text 838255.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine
  Chat online 24/7, call 1-800-950-6264 Monday-Friday 7am- 7pm PT. Email info@nami.org.
  For mental health crisis support 24/7, text NAMI to 741-741.

• Name Change in California
  If you’re filing a case to change your name or your child’s name, you can ask the court to keep your name change confidential if you are:
  • in the State Witness Program or the Safe at Home address confidentiality program
  • changing your name to avoid domestic violence, stalking, or human trafficking, or are a victim of sexual assault
• Talk to a Self-Help Center to learn about your options. If you are asking to change a child’s name, you must still notify the child’s other parent, even if you are requesting a confidential name change for the child.