National Center for Victims of Crime

08/28/2026

When the worst happens -- finding out that there are holes in laws and policies adds further pain for victims of crime. This often leads victims, advocates, attorneys, and legislators to work together to address those gaps and protect others from future harm. Join us at our National Training Institute conference next month for a keynote panel on this very topic.

You'll hear from Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Illinois state Rep. Curtis Tarver II; advocates and founders Elizabeth Carlock Phillips of Trey’s Law and Yvonne Ambrose of the Desiree Foundation Against S*x Trafficking ; and civil rights attorney Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC .

Panelists will discuss the urgent need for survivor-informed policy, the challenges of moving legislation through Congress, and the collaborative efforts required between lawmakers and advocates to ensure that victims’ voices remain central in the legislative process. Join us! Register at victimsofcrime.org/NTI

08/26/2026

Kids should be safe online – period. Social media has the power to connect but also cause great harm. We’re glad to see Big Tech being held accountable for the harm caused by children and young adults using social media and other services that are being exploited by bad actors.

It’s especially problematic that teens are becoming addicted to the very technology that can expose them to harm.

When companies build a tool that’s being used by children, they have a moral duty to ensure those users are safe and protected. NCVC is encouraged to see more people talking about the harms of technology and how it can be used by bad actors to exploit young folks – and we’re hopeful these big financial consequences will drive more change for the better.

We’ll be talking about the harms of technology when it comes to kids at this year’s National Training Institute conference in Chicago, including a keynote panel about sexual abuse in online gaming and a keynote presentation from New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, whose state successfully sued the tech giant. Register now at victimsofcrime.org/NTI

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-settles-social-media-addiction-suit-16-billion-rcna594492

The settlements came after Instagram’s Adam Mosseri testified in California on Tuesday. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had also been expected to take the stand.

08/25/2026

We're hiring a Program Manager to help lead operations for the Victim Connect Hotline and the DC Victim Hotline. If you're passionate about helping victims, assisting team members, grant management, research, and data management -- this might be the perfect fit for you. Apply online at victimsofcrime.org/careers.

08/22/2026

What happened to you does not define you, and healing happens on your own timeline. That’s one of many topics Diana Hernandez speaks about on the latest episode of I Want You to Know, out today.

Diana shares her story of her continued recovery after abuse as a teenager by a priest who served at her high school. We’re so grateful to her for taking the time to tell her story — in her own words.

Listen now at the link in our bio or wherever you get podcasts.

08/21/2026

We're hiring -- on both our hotlines! We have the following positions/hours available below.

Three VictimConnect shifts, all on Eastern time:
- Saturday-Sunday from 4 p.m. to midnight.
- Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Two DC Victim Hotline shifts, all on Eastern time:
- Friday-Sunday from midnight to 8 a.m.
- Monday from midnight to 8 a.m. and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.

Apply now at: https://victimsofcrime.org/jobs/

08/20/2026

Here are some of our favorite moments from our National Training Institute last year 💙 there’s still time to register at victimsofcrime.org/nti. See you in Chicago!

08/20/2026

We're here supporting victims and survivors 24/7/365 💙

In July, the Victim Connect Resource Center and the DC Victim Hotline answered:

- 1,881 calls
- 293 texts
- 397 chats

If you are a victim or survivor of crime and you need emotional support, information, and/or referrals, you can text or call us at 1-855-484-2846 or chat at victimconnect.org.

08/19/2026

"A lot of us have it right now where our algorithms are adapting and making sure that we’re still engaged with the case and that we are getting the latest update – even if that is not an accurate update; it’s just whatever the latest TikToker has decided to put out.”

And that right there is one of the *many* problems with "true crime." This is a terrible situation, and yet some folks can't seem to help wanting to get involved by sharing their "theories" online. This is an ongoing, current situation, but all these armchair detective comments and videos stay online forever and can harm victims' family members both now and in the future.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: There's no true crime without victims - and we all owe it to them and their family members to be respectful.

Lindsay Clancy's murder trial is generating endless discussion among true crime aficionados online, sparking theories and misinformation over the case. Kathryn Coduto, an assistant professor of media sciences at Boston University, explains why the case has taken social media by storm.

08/18/2026

Every time someone in the media speaks to a victim or survivor of crime, two stories come out of that: 1) the published story and 2) the story of how you made that victim feel during the process.

We can get so focused on headlines that we forget that real people are impacted by how those stories are told.

Here's a clip from a recent webinar our CEO, Renee Williams, did with the Mr. Ballen Foundation. For more info on telling victim stories ethically, check out our website or YouTube channel.

You can view our media guides at the link in our bio!

08/17/2026

We’re proud of our recent work, and would love your continued support 🩵💙