The Crime Victims Assistance Program offers many kinds of assistance to victims of crime and can be a source of support, advocacy and information.  The Crime Victims Assistance Program 24-Hour Hotline is (845) 452-1110.  See also our Victims' Resources and Services webpage for more information.

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You have several options.  You may choose to call local police or the 911 emergency number.  You can also go directly to the hospital emergency room (Saint Francis and Vassar Hospitals both have special facilities for sexual assault victims). 

The Crime Victims Assistance Program’s 24 Hour Sexual Trauma Crisis & Recovery Services Hotline (845-452-7272) can provide you with support and information on your options.  This agency’s staff has experience in dealing with crime victims, including adult and child victims (male and female) of sexual assault. 

For more information:

Victims' Resources and Services
http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/Community/VictimServices.htm

The Dutchess County Sex Offender Management Project, Community Education and Outreach Services Committee, and the Crime Victims Assistance Program of Family Services, Inc. has compiled the following information for sexual assault victims (.pdf format):

New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
http://www.nyscasa.org

Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network
http://www.rainn.org/  
                                                                                           
Male Survivor: Overcoming sexual victimization of boys and men
http://www.malesurvivor.org

American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children  
http://www.apsac.org/

The Center for Sex Offender Management
http://www.csom.org/

National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth
http://www.ncsby.org/

The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
http://www.atsa.com/

Safer Society Foundation, Inc.
http://www.safersociety.org/

Stop It Now!
http://www.stopitnow.com/

Child Abuse Prevention Network
http://child-abuse.com/

Parents for Megan’s law
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/

Dutchess County Sheriff's Office - Sex Offender Search
http://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_safety_1.php?office=54308

New York State Sex Offender Registry
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/

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If you are raped or engaged in sex without consenting, help is to be found by calling the police or Crime Victims Assistance Program.  Dutchess County also has a Rape Crisis Hotline, which is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and can be reached by calling (845) 452-7272.  Services available include crisis intervention, advocacy, referral information, counseling and accompaniment to the hospital, police and / or court.

No, it is your choice about whether to press charges. 

Generally for a young adult to receive services from the Crime Victims Assistance Program or the Rape Crisis Hotline a parent does not need to be notified.  However, there are some circumstances, about which your parent may need to know.  Talk to the person who is assisting you to see whether your parent needs to know and how this can be handled.

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If you are being abused or feel threatened by a boyfriend or girlfriend, there are several places to go for help, including the police.  Other agencies in the Dutchess County area where help can be found include:

Crime Victims Assistance Program of Family Services - 452-1110
Battered Women's Services of Family Services - 24-hour hotline 485-5550
Grace Smith House - 471-3033

If you have a Department of Social Services case manager, he or she can help you get the assistance you need.  Remember, the first step to getting help is to tell someone about the abusive or threatening situation.  If you stay quiet hoping these things will change, the situation is likely to just continue or get worse.

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Yes, you can.  The toll free hotline telephone number to make a report is 1-800-342-3720.  Anyone (including the victim) can make a report and the Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  When you call the Hotline you will be asked some questions about the abuse or neglect which has occurred.  You do not have to reveal your name.  A report can be made on behalf of any youth under the age of 18 years.  Once a report is made, it is transmitted to the county (ies) in which the youth and family reside.  An investigation into the allegations on the report commences within 24 hours.  If you are not sure that what has happened is considered abuse or neglect, make the call anyway.  The staff at the Hotline are trained to take the information and make this determination.

There is help available for youth who are being abused or neglected.  In addition to making a hotline report, other options include going to the police or going to a trusted adult such as a family member, teacher, counselor or therapist, doctor, foster parent, friend or case manager for help.  If you are in imminent danger call 911 or call your local police department for help.

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You may file for an Order of Protection in either Criminal Court or Family Court.  To file a petition in Family Court, you may come to 50 Market St., 2^nd floor between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  Petitions are taken on a first come, first served basis.

For more information contact: Family Court at (845) 486-2500 or Probation at (845) 486-2600.  See also the District Attorney's webpage on Domestic Violence.

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Victims of crime can immediately learn the custody status of any offender housed in any of New York's county jails or other county correctional facilities. Any victim can register with the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to be automatically notified if an offender's custody status should change. This feature eliminates the need for a victim to constantly call the Sheriffs' VICTIM HOTLINE to verify the offender's status.

Call 1-888-VINE-4-NY(1-888-846-3469) from a touch-tone phone and follow the directions.

Other Resources:
VINELink (online version of VINE)
  - https://www.vinelink.com/

New York State Department of Correctional Services
  - http://www.docs.state.ny.us/

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Click on the following links to access information for general hotline numbers and hotline numbers for victims.

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