Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center

Albany County CVSVC Services:


Counseling and Advocacy-
The Center provides information, referral services, counseling and criminal advocacy to crime victims. Online crisis chat: Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as their families and friends, can speak with a rape crisis counselor online in an instant message or direct message-like format. This service can be accessed at albanycounty.com/cvsvc, and is available Monday through Friday 10am-2pm EST. Our phone hotline is available 24/7 at 518-447-7716. Sexual assault crisis hotline (phone): The Center operates a 24-hour sexual assault hotline for crisis counseling and advocacy at Albany County hospitals and police stations for victims of sexual assault. This number is 518-447-7716. Therapy: Free, confidential therapy for victims of interpersonal crimes, including adult and child sexual assault, domestic violence, assault and homicide, is available Monday through Friday by appointment. Court Advocacy and Assistance:
Our Court Advocates offer a range of services to crime victims and their families. The program provides help in recovering from victimization by offering these services:

Crisis intervention counseling in person or via telephone;
Advocacy with criminal justice and law enforcement agencies;
Assistance in filing claims with the NYS Office of Victim Services;
Referral to public and private sources for additional help, such as public assistance, counseling, emergency shelter

Volunteer Program-
The Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center utilizes volunteers as court advocates and sexual assault crisis hotline counselors. Court Advocates: complete a total of 50 hours of online training to become an Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) certified Crime Victim Advocate. Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline Counselors: Complete 35 hour training sequence and become certified by the NYS Department of Health as Rape Crisis Counselors. These volunteers provide advocacy and support to sexual assault victims on the phone and in the Albany County hospital emergency departments and police stations. To apply to one of our volunteer programs, please submit an application to our office via mail, fax or
e-mail. Applications and more information can be found on our website:

www.albanycounty.com/cvsvc

To speak with a member of our staff about volunteering, please call (518) 447-7100. Prevention Education-
The Center provides free lectures to teachers, parents, teens, children and professional and community groups in Albany County. Presentations are tailored to the interest, need and education level of the audience. The following are just some of the topics available for presentations:

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Healthy Relationships
Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
Non-stranger Assault
Safety Techniques and Crime Prevention
Bullying Prevention

Assistance is also available to students and others researching crime victim related topics.