Domestic and Sexual Violence Services in Vermont

Statewide Hotlines

Sexual Violence: 1-800-489-7273
Domestic Violence: 1-800-228-7395

Our 24 hour hotline can be dialed free from anywhere in Vermont and will connect you to your local service program. To find a domestic and sexual violence program in your area, click here.

Reporting Child Abuse/Neglect: 1-800-649-5285
Reporting Abuse/Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult: 1-800-564-1612

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Vermont Services and Organizations

There are many services and organizations in Vermont who can help when you are in trouble. See below for a brief description of some of the services that may be available to you.

The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

has 14 Member Programs that provide services and support to victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Each of these programs have 24-hour hotline. Some, but not all, of these programs provide emergency shelter.

24 Hour Hotline
Specialized Services
Medical Help
Legal Services
Services for Victims of Crime
Economic Services
Vermont Sex Offender Registry
Finding other services in Vermont

What is a Hotline?
The sexual assault hotline offers 24 hour access to advocates specializing in crisis support. Callers can receive information on emergency legal information and help in accessing emergency care health services including hospital advocacy. Callers also receive emotional support, information and individual advocacy regarding social services and information about local support groups (that occur by phone or in person) and therapists. For services offered in your county, please contact your local Network Program.

Who can call the Hotline?
Anyone can call the hotline for assistance. The hotline is anonymous. Please call if:

you are a survivor or victim of sexual or domestic violence and seek support and information about services or you just want to talk

you are a friend or family member or concerned individual regarding a sexual or domestic violence and don’t know what to do

you are unsure whether or not you have been sexually assaulted and want more information and support

you are unsure whether or not you are in an abusive relationship

you were assaulted in the past and are seeking services

Other Services and Organizations in Vermont

Specialized Services

SafeSpace - SafeSpace is a social change and social service program working to end physical, sexual and emotional violence in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgener, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) people. They provide information, support, referrals, and advocacy to LGBTQQ suriviors of violence and offer education and outreach programs in the wider community.

In Vermont 802-863-0003
Toll Free 866-869-7341

Deaf Victims Advocacy Service (DVAS) serves all signing and non signing deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and deaf-blind individuals to enhance awareness and education about crimes and abuse.

voice or videophone 802 526 2262
toll free tty hotline is 800 303 3827

Medical Help

Medical examination and treatment is free to all victims and survivors of sexual assault in Vermont and can be performed in a variety of health care settings. This includes free follow-up exams. You do not need health insurance to receive these services. Contact your local health care provider or clinic for more information.Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are available at local hospital emergency rooms. They are trained in examination of sexual assault victims and will:

check for injuries which may not be obvious
provide immediate treatment against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases
provide HIV testing and prophylaxis
collect evidence for use in legal proceedings – this evidence will not be used without your permission

For more information, click here.

Legal Services

Vermont Legal Aid Vermont Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm organized into specialized projects serving clients from six offices located throughout Vermont.

Have Justice – Will Travel Have Justice-Will Travel, Inc. is a non-profit organization that brings legal and social services into the rural communities of Vermont.

Have Justice - Will Travel provides in-home consultations, transportation to and from court hearings and free legal representation for low-income Vermonters who are victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Services for Victims of Crime

Center for Crime Victims’ Services provides compassionate, victim-centered services to Vermont’s victims of crime. Some of their services include:

The Vermont Victim Assistance Program
The Center maintains advocates in the Attorney General’s and State's Attorneys' offices throughout Vermont's fourteen counties. Victim advocates guide victims through the criminal justice process and serve as a liaison with the State's Attorneys and other criminal justice agencies. Many counties have "specialized" advocates who focus solely on cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Victim advocates provide information on the status of court cases, notify victims of hearings, prepare victims to testify, and assist victims with applications for victims compensation. They also assist victims with completing Victim Impact Statements, requesting restitution, and requesting notification of their offender's release. In addition, advocates provide short-term counseling and emotional support to victims, accompany them to court, and help to ensure that they are not re-victimized by the criminal justice process.

Victim Restitution Unit The State of Vermont Restitution Unit was created by Vermont’s legislature to address the financial hardship caused to crime victims by having to wait for an offender to pay their restitution. For any restitution ordered on or after July 1, 2004, the Restitution Unit is able to pay a victim their restitution as soon as it has been ordered by the court. The payments are made from a newly created Restitution Fund. The Restitution Unit will then collect the outstanding amount from the offender and reimburse the Fund. If you have questions about the court-ordered offender restitution, or about the Restitution Unit, please call

Victim Compensation The Victims Compensation Program provides limited financial assistance to victims of violent crime who have experienced a financial loss as the direct result of the crime, as long as the loss is not reimbursable through other sources, such as insurance.

Local (Vermont) Phone:1-800-750-1213

Phone: 1-802-241-1250

TTY (Vermont): 1-800-845-4874

Economic Services

A range of financial assistance programs are available through DCF’s Economic Services Division including health care (VHAP and Dr. Dynasaur), food stamps, emergency response (EA/GA), Reach Up, heating assistance and more. There is specific eligibility criteria associated with each program and advocacy is important to ensure access to as broad a range of resources as possible for each individual. To find out more go to www.dsw.state.vt.us/Programs_Pages.

Unemployment Compensation Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking who have left work voluntarily because of the violence they are experiencing and who are ineligible for traditional unemployment compensation benefits, may apply to the Department of Labor (DOL) for benefits through the Transitional Employment Program. Its purpose is to provide temporary, partial wage-replacement to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking who need to leave work because of violence. http://www.labor.vermont.gov/

Housing Assistance The Vermont State Housing Authority offers a Domestic Violence Preference for individuals and families who are homeless and seeking subsidized housing. There is specific eligibility criteria to qualify for the program. Local housing authorities may have strategies or policies that assist victims of domestic and sexual violence in accessing affordable housing in your local area though this is an increasingly difficult area of resources advocacy. Contact VSHA at www.vsha.org.

Sex Offender Registry

The Vermont Department of Public Safety maintains the Sex Offender Registry.

Generally, offenders who were convicted of sexual offenses, as defined by law, on or after 7/1/96, or released on or after that date, in Vermont or any other state, are required to register.

If you have been the victim of sexual violence and your offender has been convicted and sentenced for the crime, you have the right to be notified by the Vermont Sex Offender Registry in writing of that offender’s current address. This notification is to be made promptly, both when the offender initially registers with the Vermont Sex Offender Registry and anytime the offender changes his/her address.

To be notified of the offender’s location, you must complete a Victim Notification Form and return it to the Vermont Sex Offender Registry.

Finding Services in Vermont

Dialing 211 will connect you to an operator who can assist you in finding local and state resources of any kind.