Resources for Victim Service Providers

Statewide Automated Victim Identification Notification (SAVIN)
PA-SAVIN is an innovative, free, confidential and automated service that helps victims of crime, their friends and/or family along with any concerned citizen track the status of an offender, housed in a county or state prison within the Commonwealth or under the supervision of the PA Board of Probation or Parole.

OVS Newsletter
OVS has created a bi-weekly newsletter to keep programs updated on any changes within OVS, any upcoming trainings and much more.

Publications and Posters

Bill of Rights for Crime Victims
Crime victims have many rights under the law. The Bill of Rights outlines what their rights are as crime victims.

A summary version of the Bill of Rights is also available.

Statewide Organizational Capacity Building Portal
This portal is an electronic repository of resources, including training, for Pennsylvania’s victim service agencies. It is designed to help build organizational capacity at low to no cost, and to make resources available at the user’s convenience. Please visit www.pacapacity.net to learn more.

Victim Notification Booklet
There are two ways to print this booklet. It can be printed in an 8 ½" X 11" style or in booklet format. When printing in the booklet format, your printer must be capable of duplexing (printing on the front and back). Form fields have been inserted into the documents, to allow each Police Department to personalize their booklets electronically before printing.

Victim Notification Booklet (8 ½" X 11" style in English) (pdf.)
Victim Notification Booklet (Booklet Format in English) (pdf.)
Victim Notification Booklet (8 ½" X 11" style in Spanish) (pdf.)
Victim Notification Booklet (Booklet Format in Spanish) (pdf.)

Victim Advocate Manual for Compensation Assistance (.pdf)
This manual represents a comprehensive reference guide and resource for victim advocates to use in assisting victims of crime with filing a claim.

Getting Started With DAVE (.pdf)
This step-by-step user guide is intended to be used as a reference source. After reviewing this guide and successfully attending an online DAVE training, advocates will be given their individual logins and passwords to use DAVE. To register for an online DAVE Training (please note prior attendance at a Basic Compensation training is a required prerequisite), go to https:\\copa.webex.com.

Safety Planning Fact Sheet (.pdf)
Did you know that offenders are using the cell phones of their victims to track them by installing GPS units in them? Did you know that offenders are using tiny cameras mounted on the inside of a wall to spy on a victim through a hole the size of a pin? Unfortunately, there are many other technological advances like this that offenders are using to victimize. The key is simply knowing such advances exist so preventative steps can be taken. To help you get started, the Office of Victims' Services (OVS) has created a fact sheet on safety planning you can use with victims to help protect themselves.

Data, Surveys and Research Reports

OVA - Prison Reform Online Training October 2011

OVA - Prison Reform Online Training Q & A October 2011

Victims Services Public Awareness Campaign

Elder Abuse Outreach and Prevention Campaign

Office for Victims of Crime - National Crime Victims' Rights Week

Crime Victims Act (.pdf)

The Juvenile Act

Capacity Building Toolkit for Victim Services Agencies in Pennsylvania

Human Trafficking Resources 

Keystone Crisis Intervention Team (KCIT)
KCIT provides trained teams of professionals upon request, to serve any community within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where a crime has taken place. Please visit KCIT’s website to learn more about the team and how to activate the team should your community need their assistance.

Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
ACP is administered by the Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA) and provides an important service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Information and Referral Resources for Crime Victims/Survivors

List of Helpful Resources