New York State

Capital District Coalition for Sex Offender Management

Summary of Victim Services in the Capital District (Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady) counties.

Albany County

Victim services in the county have been provided since 1975, and include mental health treatment, court advocacy, a 24-hour hotline, and both in-house and referrals to treatment. The services are for both adults and children and are free.

Services:

Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center
112 State Street Room 1100 Albany, New York 12207
You may contact Robin Belansky, Clinical Supervisor, at (518) 447-5500 or email at cvsvc@albanycounty.com

The Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center provides free and comprehensive criminal justice advocacy services to resident victims of sexual assault, including accompaniment to hospital emergency rooms and the SANE program, as well as, crisis counseling and therapy, whether or not they report their crime to law enforcement officials and regardless of the time when they were assaulted. In recognition of the special needs of sexual assault victims in the criminal justice system and the scope of sexual violence in our community, the Center was established in 1975 to provide direct and comprehensive services on a twenty-four-hour basis and to offer prevention education programs to raise community consciousness in order to ultimately eradicate the crime of rape.

The Child Advocacy Center for Albany County Inc.
405 Myrtle Ave.
Albany, NY 12206
(518) 262-1248
(518) 262-1249

The Center provides a child friendly atmosphere for investigation, medical examination, and treatment of child victims and their families (non-offending). A multi-disciplinary team is in place for better communication between law enforcement, district attorney's office, child protective services and service provider agencies. Clients and their families receive victim advocacy and NYS Crime victims assistance, as well as therapy. It provides referrals, training and case management.

Columbia County

Victim services in the county include mental health treatment, court advocacy, a 24-hour hotline, and both in-house and referrals to treatment. The services are for both adults and children and are free.

Services:

Victim/Witness Assistance Program
Columbia County District Attorney’s Office
Court House Annex Hudson, New York 12534
You can contact an Advocate at (518) 828-3414

This program offers coordinated services to address the physical, emotional and financial needs of crime victims and their families. The program is designed to ease a victim’s fears and confusion in dealing with the court process.

The Reach Center, Inc.
542 Warren Street Hudson, New York 12534
You can contact (518) 828-5556 or email at www.reachcenter.com

All services are free and confidential. Services: Crisis Intervention 24 hours a day in emergencies, Accompaniment to Hospital, Police Station, and Court, Counseling Services, Advocacy with Medical and Criminal Justice System, Referral and Information Services, Assistance with Crime Victim Compensation Claims, Educational Programs, and Services may be requested by crime victims, family member or friend of a victim.

Rensselaer County

Rensselaer County has a comprehensive victim-centered approach, with the Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program, the Start Children’s Center, and the District Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program all servicing sexual assault victims.

Services:

Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program
Samaritan Hospital 2215 Burdett Avenue Troy, New York 12180
You can contact Lisa Smith, Director at (518) 271-3639 or email at smithlisa@nehealth.com .

Since 1979, the Rape Crisis Program for Rensselaer County has provided services to survivors of sexual assault, their families, and friends. Today, as the Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program, it continues its commitment to reducing the trauma of crime and violence for its victims, and of educating the community in an attempt to create a supportive and caring environment for the victims/survivors.

Services are provided in the main office at Samaritan Hospital and at satellite locations: Hoosick Falls, Troy Police Dept, the Rensselaer Co. Courthouse, Rensselaer County Probation Dept, Hudson Valley Community College, and Russell Sage College. While services are not provided in people’s homes for safety reasons, customers are seen in their communities and in schools to meet their needs. Services are offered confidentially and at no cost to those victimized, as well as their family and friends, to men, women, and children, pediatric to geriatric, and are available 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year. Victim services available are: crisis intervention, short term counseling, sexual assault therapy, info & referral, advocacy & accompaniment to medical and/or legal procedures, assistance with crime victim compensation. Prevention and professional education services are available year-round to community members.

The Program has specialized services for clients with special needs: the Senior Crime Victim Program, serving victims of abuse over the age of 60; a Crime Victims with Disabilities Program, serving those who are victimized because of their disability as well as those who have become disabled due to severe abuse.

START Children’s Center
2136 Burdett Avenue Troy, New York 12180
You can contact Renee Roman, Executive Director at (518) 271-6001

The agency is a child advocacy center that assists child victims of sexual and physical abuse and their non-offending family members. They have a child-friendly atmosphere for children to be interviewed by the police and/or child protective services. Students will assist in the day to day functions of a child advocacy center and the issues surrounding child abuse.

Services offered: Joint investigations in child sexual abuse, Joint investigations in physical abuse, Medical exams and reports, Multi disciplinary team members, Court case tracking, Mental health evaluation, Referrals, Long-term treatment of child victims, Treatment of non-offending parents/siblings, Training for schools, Forensic interviews, Information and referrals, and Community education.

Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office: Victim Assistance Program
Rensselaer County Courthouse
Troy, NY 12180

The program is housed within the District Attorney’s Office and offers a coordinated service to address the physical, emotional, and financial needs of crime victims and their families. Additionally, criminal justice support is provided in a variety of ways to ease a victim’s fear and confusion associated with participation in the court process. Referrals are provided to counseling agencies, shelters, housing programs, legal aid, emergency food referrals, support groups for victims and others.

Saratoga County

Saratoga County has a broad base of victim service programs/ There is a strong multidisciplinary team, a children’s advocacy center that includes non-emergent SAFE exams, a rape crisis program with a 24-hour hotline, and a District Attorney’s victim/witness program. All programs have advocates who work together for the benefit of victims and non-offending family members.
Services:

Office of The District Attorney of Saratoga County
Crime Victims Advocacy Unit
25 West High Street Ballston Spa, New York 12020
You can contact the Bev LaBarge and Vicki Merola at (518) 885-2263

The Advocates in the Crime Victims Unit are ready and able to help victims throughout the criminal justice process. They can explain a victim’s rights, how the court system works and what to expect each step of the way. They are available to meet with victim’s in person or to speak with them over the phone. The Advocates can make sure that a victim’s thoughts are directly conveyed to the Assistant District Attorney handling the case.

Additionally, the Advocates can explain the possibility of reimbursement from the New York State Crime Victims Board and help with the application process. Information about and referral to other available services is also provided through this unit.

Domestic Violence Services /Saratoga Rape Crisis Services
480 Broadway LL20 Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
You can contact Maggie Fronk, Executive Director, at (518) 583-0280; or call hotline at (518) 587-2336

The mission of the Domestic Violence Services / Saratoga Rape Crisis program is to help victims find safety, healing, and a measure of justice by providing a wide range of services including counseling for adults and children, safe shelter, legal advocacy, and preventive education throughout the county.

Services offered: Hotline, Shelter, Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Program, Individual Counseling, Information and Referral, Advocacy Services, legal Clinic, Hope Support Group for Women, Children’s Services, Safe Pet Partnership, Individual Case Management, Other Support and Educational Groups, Housing and Employment Counseling, Community and Professional Education Training.

Saratoga Center for the Family
359 Ballston Avenue Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
You can contact Loretta Somerville, Director at (518) 587-8008

Incorporated in 1978, the Saratoga Center for the Family is Saratoga County’s primary provider of prevention programs and counseling services to children who have been abused or neglected. Clients include children and adult survivors of abuse, adults who are challenged with parenting issues, and children with behavioral and emotional counseling needs.

Services offered: Individual, Family and Group Counseling

Child Advocacy Center is a child-friendly center that assists child victims and non-offending family members. In the child-friendly building, children are interviewed by law enforcement and/or CPS, and non-emergent pediatric forensic exams are performed. Services offered: Investigation, Treatment and victim services to children and families affected by sexual and physical abuse, at one central and child-focused location, Parent Education Services, Parent Support Programs, Child Abuse Prevention and Anger Management Programs, Crisis and Emergency Services, Crime Victims Advocacy for Children, New York State Department of Education mandated Reported Child Abuse Training.

Schenectady County

 

The program is housed within the District Attorney’s Office and offers a coordinated service to address the physical, emotional, and financial needs of crime victims and their families. Additionally, criminal justice support is provided in a variety of ways to ease a victim’s fear and confusion associated with participation in the court process. Referrals are provided to counseling agencies, shelters, housing programs, legal aid, emergency food referrals, support groups for victims and others.

 

Schenectady County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Team

Schenectady County Office of the District Attorney Schenectady, New York 12305

You can contact Tammi Crowther, Coordinator at (518) 388-4615

The Schenectady County Child Abuse Multidisciplinary team is dedicated to ensuring comprehensive investigations, prosecution, and service provision to child abuse victims and their families in a manner that minimizes further trauma.

Services offered: Joint investigations in child sexual abuse, physical abuse and domestic violence, Medical exams and reports, Multi disciplinary team members, Long-term treatment of child victims, Treatment of non-offending parents/siblings, Training for schools, Forensic interviews, Information and referrals, and Community education.

 

Rape Crisis Sexual Assault Support Services of Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, Inc.

414 Union Street Schenectady, NY 12305

You can contact Janine Pustolka, County Coordinator at (518)374-5353, press option 7, ext. 3216

(518) 346-2266 24-hour Hotline

The program provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, Free and confidential crisis counseling, Individual, family and group therapy, Support groups, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program at St. Clare's Hospital, Medical and legal accompaniments, Advocacy, Information and referrals to all victims of sexual assault/abuse and their families; NYS Crime Victims Compensation Claims Assistance, Prevention education, Professional trainings, Community outreach and Volunteer opportunities.

 

New York State Police

Troop G 504 Loudon Road Latham, NY 12211

You can contact Carol Carlson, Crime Victim Specialist at (518) 783-3236 or email at ccarlson@troopers.state.ny.us ccarlson@troopers.state.ny.us

The Victim Advocacy Unit serves 10 counties and is a “first responder” to victims.

Services offered: Assistance with NYS Crime Victims Board, Compensation Applications, Advocacy, Emotional Support, Crisis Counseling, Referral Services, Follow-up Support Services, Home and Hospital Visits, Criminal Justice Information and Accompaniment, Information about victim’s legal rights, and Transportation to Hospital, Court, etc.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

200 McCarthy Avenue Albany, NY 12209

You can contact Dorothy Copeland, Victim Specialist at (518) 465-7551

The FBI Victim Assistance Program helps victims of Federal Crimes by providing referral information for counseling, medical and legal services, providing case status information and other special needs such as transportation to court appearances, assistance with compensation claim forms, etc. Each of the 56 Field Divisions has a Victim Specialist that may be contacted for assistance. The Albany Division covers most of the upstate New York and State of Vermont.