Founded by Empire Justice Center, Pro Bono Net, the Center for Human Services Research at the University at Albany, and the NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS), the New York Crime Victims Legal Network (CVLN) is a partnership of OVS-funded civil legal organizations and victim assistance programs. We work together to connect victims of crime with civil legal (non-criminal) information, resources, and assistance through the use of our online resource, NY Crime Victims Legal Help. All OVS-funded organizations are members of CVLN.
People often have legal concerns as a result of being a victim of crime. In addition to working with police and prosecutors, a person may also have non-criminal – or civil legal – needs because of the crime. These needs can include housing, employment, finances, and safety. We developed NY Crime Victim Legal Help to make it easier for victims to find information and get help.
For more information about the Crime Victims Legal Network, please download our flyer in English or in Spanish (PDF) and read our report that highlights accomplishment and the usage of NY Crime Victims Legal Help during the OVS grant period of 10/1/22-9/30/25, and our previous report for the 10/1/19-9/30/22 grant period.
Want to learn more about the Crime Victims Legal Network or the resources on NY Crime Victims Legal Help? Have one of our team members present to your agency, community group, organization, or association. Contact us via email to: info@cvln.org.
How can this online resource help?
This online resource can connect victims of crime to civil legal information and resources in areas such as housing, family law, employment, and immigration. Through this online resource, crime victims can access a range of legal services, such as:
- Know your rights information
- Do-it-yourself forms
- Legal advice and representation
Not sure of whether a crime has happened to you? Learn more about types of crime and the rights of crime victims.
If you know the kind of legal assistance you need, the Legal Services Help Directory can direct you to the right service providers. The Legal Directory currently lists resources for all counties in New York State. Using the Legal Directory, you may be referred to a civil legal organization that can receive direct client referrals through this online resource. These organizations are Referral Partners of the Crime Victims Legal Network, so connecting with them will be easier. We can’t guarantee that the referral partner organization can represent you, but they will help you find resources that you can use.
The Know Your Rights library has information about your rights as a crime victim and other information that may help you understand your options. You can also find a number of DIY forms that may help you take the next step to resolve your legal issue.
If you need help finding information on this website, you can use LiveHelp to chat with someone who can direct you to the right resource. The LiveHelp staff cannot give you legal advice, but they can help you find the information you need to address your legal concern.
In 2019, advocates will have access to additional resources through a secure portal.
Interested in learning more? Download our flyer about New York Crime Victims Legal Help (PDF format)
Looking for information about criminal court? Learn about criminal court basics or talk to a crime victim advocate near you.
Our Advisory Committee
The New York Crime Victims Legal Network is guided by an Advisory Committee, whose expertise and feedback has been invaluable in the design of this online resource.
Current members and representatives
- Sarah Duval, Center for Elder Law & Justice
- Jeffrey Nieznanski, Legal Assistance of Western New York
- Rachel Saunders, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
- Erin Shay, Albany Police Department
- Jennifer Storm, The Legal Project
- David Young, Disability Rights New York
- Karen Ziegler, Albany County Management & Budget
Past members and representatives
- Joseph G. Fazzary and Kristen Plyter, Schuyler County District Attorney
- Lisa Frisch and Katelyn Primomo Millood, The Legal Project
- Susan Gagnon, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
- Lisa Gerritse, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- Nitasha George and Vanessa Gonzalez, In Our Own Voices
- Rachel Halperin, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
- Rochelle Klempner, New York State Unified Court System
- Robin Marable, Gillian Menza, Legal Assistance of Western New York
- Pat McGrath, John Zonitch, Lauren Breen, Andrew Emborsky, Neighborhood Legal Services
- Karen Nicolson and Molly White, Center of Elder Law & Justice
- Lew Papenfuse and Lauren Deutsch, Worker Justice Center of New York
- Susan Patnode and Julie Ross, Rural Law Center of New York
- Tabitha Carter and Emily Waters, The Safe Center, L.I.
- Charlotte Watson, NYS Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts
What is the New York Crime Victims Legal Network?
Founded by Empire Justice Center, Pro Bono Net, the Center for Human Services Research at the University at Albany, and the NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS), the New York Crime Victims Legal Network (CVLN) is a partnership of organizations working together to connect victims of crime with civil legal assistance (non-criminal assistance) through the use of our online resource, NY Crime Victims Legal Help. All OVS-funded organizations are members of CVLN.
People often have legal needs as a result of being a victim of crime. For many crime victims, the problems they face after a crime can be challenging, especially when they have several legal needs and are unsure where they can go for help. In addition to working with law enforcement and the criminal justice system, a victim may also have non-criminal — civil legal needs — that impact the basic necessities in their life, like housing, employment, and safety. We developed this online resource, NY Crime Victims Legal Help, to make it easier for victims of crime to get information and services to help with these civil legal needs.
To help promote the network, please download and share the Help for Crime Victims flyer (PDF).
Don’t see your location listed?
NY Crime Victims Legal Help was created to help victims of crime in New York State connect with legal information and assistance.
If you are a victim of crime in Alaska, California, Colorado, D.C., Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, or Texas, please visit the national victim legal assistance networks to find help in your state.
For victims of crime in the United States or from other countries, you can locate crime victim services through the federal Office for Victims of Crime Directory.
History of the New York Crime Victims Legal Network
The Office for Victims of Crime’s Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services report indicates a serious need for comprehensive, no-cost legal services for victims of all crime types. People often have numerous legal needs as a result of being a victim of crime. For many crime victims, navigating the aftermath of a crime can be challenging, especially when they have overlapping legal needs and are unsure where they can go for help.
To address this need for comprehensive victim services, in 2012 the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime funded six demonstration projects across the country to create models of victim legal assistance networks. The goal of these networks was to offer a wider range of legal assistance that victims need as a result of their victimization.
In 2014, the New York State Office of Victim Services became the recipient of a Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime grant award, and partnered with Empire Justice Center, the Center for Human Services Research at SUNY Albany, and Pro Bono Net to create the New York Crime Victims Legal Network. An advisory committee of attorneys, advocates, crime victims, and providers guide and support the development of the Network. Our work is informed by a comprehensive needs assessment that the Center for Human Services Research completed in 2017 to identify existing gaps in civil legal services for crime victims. Read the complete report here.
In October 2018, CVLN launched NY Crime Victims Legal Help as a pilot in Erie, Niagara, and Genesee counties. In 2019 it was expanded to all counties in New York State outside of New York City, with New York City resources included in early 2020.
Together with the other national networks, we are part of the Office for Victims of Crime’s Vision 21 initiative’s effort to provide holistic legal assistance to all victims of crime.
What is LiveHelp?
Are you having trouble finding the legal information that you need? You can use LiveHelp to chat with someone who can help you find what you need. Just click on the chat button on the bottom right of your screen to chat with a LiveHelp Agent.
LiveHelp Agents are volunteers or staff members of LawHelpNY and its partner organizations who have been trained to help find information on the New York Crime Victims Legal Help Network, LawHelpNY.org and New York court websites.
LiveHelp Agents cannot give you advice on what to do in your particular case, but can help you find organizations that can advise or represent you for free.
You do not need to give LiveHelp agents any personal information to use LiveHelp. Read LiveHelp’s privacy policy for more information. We would appreciate if you fill out the survey that pops up at the end of your chat.
LiveHelp is available Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time). LiveHelp is not available on most holidays.
You must be 18 years old or older to use LiveHelp on this website.