CURRENT NEWS

Our Instagram feed (linked below) highlights local events and support groups, new resources for crime survivors, and important policy changes that may impact survivors. Scroll down for social links and follow us today!

Check out our Linktree which includes all of the linked articles from our posts as well as important resources.

Listen to our own rose preston and erika rajo of umcno talk trauma recovery centers on wbok's morning show! (segment starts at 1:02:00)

In 2007, the U.S. Congress designated September 25 of each year as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. The resolution states that this day provides “an opportunity for the people of the United States to honor the memories of murder victims and to recognize the impact on surviving family members.” -Office for Victims of Crime. If you are the loved one of a homicide victim, and you aren't sure where to find help, please visit our website crimesurvivorsnola.org (link in bio) for New Orleans area resources including grief and support groups. Our thoughts are with you always. ❤️

The Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington starts today! There are quite a few Survivors from Louisiana participating, including our own Rose Preston! You can follow the events live...just visit the link in our bio for more info from event organizers @cssjustice @safeandjustusa.

Survivors of violence and their families often face staggering medical bills. Did you know that many area hospitals have income-based financial policies to help reduce or even eliminate the out-of-pocket money you owe for medical bills? We've included links to hospital policies in the Greater New Orleans area, with an income calculator so you can see if you may be eligible. Visit crimesurvivorsnola.org and click on the LOCAL HOSPITAL FINANCIAL AID POLICIES button at the bottom of any page of our site. Also check out our guide to Crime Victim Reparations (CVR), a state program that can help you with not just medical but other crime-related costs too. Click on the FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CVR) button at the bottom of any page of our site. Our guide is created by survivors for survivors, so the information we share is for planning purposes only. Be sure to reach out to the hospital's financial department directly to get updated information on your particular situation. #supportsurvivors #traumarecoveryisprevention #advocacyheals

Gender-based violence, including sexual abuse/assault and domestic or intimate partner violence, are major violent crimes, too. We've seen many news articles and reports lately on violent crime rates in New Orleans plummeting overall (which is great news), yet they neglect to mention sexual violence, domestic and intimate partner violence, child abuse, stalking, or hate crimes. @nopdnews puts out a weekly report on all types of violent crime under their “Transparency” page, and they are also putting out new quarterly reports on sexual assault and domestic violence. This new and more detailed information is so important! The weekly reports show first and second-degree rape have increased 18% year to date since 2023, while third degree rape has decreased by 8%. Additionally, the quarter 2 report on domestic violence shows a 40% increase when compared with last year, and the same report shows 87% of sex crimes cases remained open, with less than 4% of Q2 cases ending in arrest.

We've pulled together a short list of immediate resources for victim-survivors of violence and their family members in the Greater New Orleans area. Find more at www.crimesurvivorsnola.org #supportsurvivors #traumarecoveryisprevention #advocacyheals

Last week, a jury decided the City of New Orleans violated a young survivor's civil rights by hiring the officer who sexually assaulted her. They awarded her $1 million. Disturbingly, @washingtonpost reports Officer Rodney Vicknair was the "sixth New Orleans officer convicted of crimes involving child sexual abuse since 2011." The @nolaoipm commented: “This case demonstrates the danger of failing to recognize and respond to red flags warning of potential sexual misconduct within a police department. When leadership stated that grooming is not illegal, it signaled a leadership and culture failure on the part of the NOPD.” Read the full article by @washingtonpost linked in our bio, and also check out the rest of their series "Abused by the Badge" which chronicles the nationwide problem of sexual assault and abuse by law enforcement officers.

This #wellnesswednesday, we want to share an amazing local resource created by volunteers in partnership with @imaginewaterworks. Updated last month, this FREE guide includes listings of free and low cost services in the Greater New Orleans area, with everything from basic needs assistance to health care to anti violence resources to housing to disaster relief. There are also sections specifically for transgender and gender non-conforming people, formerly incarcerated people, and disability access and justice. THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered their time to put this together (p.s. we know putting together a guide is a LOT of work!!). The guide is available for download from @imaginewaterworks and @antigravitymag. We’ve also linked it in our bio. You can also find printed copies around town! #supportsurvivors

From Judith Lewis Herman, author of Trauma and Recovery and Truth and Repair: "If trauma is truly a social problem, and indeed it is, then recovery cannot be simply a private, individual matter. The wounds of trauma are not merely those caused by the perpetrators of violence and exploitation; the actions or inactions of bystanders - all those who are complicit in or who prefer not to know about the abuse or who blame the victims - often cause even deeper wounds." -Truth and Repair, p. 3 It's so important to remember – whether you’re a family member, friend, police officer, lawyer, employer or neighbor – the way you respond to the trauma of others MATTERS. Your response can be such a comfort during the most horrific moments of someone's life. But it can also be the cause of deep additional wounds. Avoiding talking about what happened for fear of saying the wrong thing can be very isolating and damaging for a survivor or family member of a victim. You won’t always say the "right" thing, but you can be there (without judgement), be supportive, and listen.

Since we've gotten some new followers recently, we're re-sharing local New Orleans area resources for those impacted by violence. Here is part 2 of our series including specific resources for those impacted by sexual or domestic violence. You can find more resources that #supportsurvivors at our website www.crimesurvivorsnola.org (link in bio). Be sure to check out our Criminal Legal section for an interactive flowchart of how the criminal court process works as well as our Support Group page. @childrenshospitalnola @staradvocates familyjusticecenter umcno #traumarecoveryisprevention #advocacyheals

Since we've gotten some new followers recently, we're re-sharing local New Orleans area resources for those impacted by violence. Here are some specific resources for those impacted by homicide or assault. You can find more resources that #supportsurvivors at our website www.crimesurvivorsnola.org (link in bio). Be sure to check out our Criminal Legal section for an interactive flowchart of how the criminal court process works as well as our Support Group page. @bcmnola @nopdnews @silenceisviolence504 @orleansparishso umcno #traumarecoveryisprevention #advocacyheals

If you are the victim of a crime in New Orleans, or the family member of a victim, and the crime has been reported to the New Orleans Police Department @nopdnews, you can get information on the case and connected with resources. If the case is under investigation and there has not yet been an arrest, call NOPD's Victim Witness Assistance Unit: (504) 658-6795 If there has been an arrest in the case, and it has been referred to the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office @orleansparishda for prosecution, you can reach out to the DA's Victim Witness Assistance Unit by calling: (504) 822-2414 As the victim of a crime (or family member of a victim) you are entitled to updates to your case as it progresses through the system. To learn more, see Louisiana's Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. Learn more here: www.crimesurvivorsnola.org/victims-rights-laws And also check out our website www.crimesurvivorsnola.org for many more resources that #supportsurvivors

Did you know umcno is the home of Louisiana's first Trauma Recovery Center? Seeds of NOLA Trauma Recovery Center offers services for those 13 and older and is free for Orleans Parish residents. In addition to therapy, case management, and legal assistance, they also offer SUPPORT GROUPS (free for everyone!) both virtual and in person. SUPPORT GROUPS are alternating Mondays 3:30-4:30pm at UMC's Conference Room A/B (in person) or virtual via zoom. Call 504.702.4335 for more information. Upcoming dates: July 22*, August 5, and August 19*. Dates with * focus on the loss of a loved one / traumatic bereavement. Visit www.crimesurvivorsnola.org/support-groups to download the flyer which includes the zoom link. #supportsurvivors #traumarecoveryisprevention

After experiencing violence in the New Orleans area, you may not know where to find help or info. We’ve created guides to walk you through some of these things like: Crime Victim Reparations (CVR), the Criminal Legal Process (police, DA, court), how to sign up for Custody Status Notifications (of an individual’s incarceration status), how to look up an Orleans Parish criminal court case, and how to apply to the state’s Address Confidentiality Program. We also have a Support Group page. Visit our website www.crimesurvivorsnola.org and scroll down to see buttons for each of these guides! *These guides are made by volunteer-survivors and are for informational purposes only, so always check with the agencies responsible for the programs to get the most current updates. #supportsurvivors #nolacrime #crimevictim #crimesurvivor #traumarecoveryisprevention

This #policyfriday: The @lastatepolice have created a new statewide Louisiana Survivor Portal to allow individuals to track Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs) that were collected after July 1, 2024. Visit https://sakt.louisiana.gov/ to enter in the tracking number you received after your sexual assault kit was collected. If you have questions about this new program, contact the LSP Crime Lab's Sexual Assault Kit Tracking Unit (225) 925-6216. Today's post can also be found on our website as a new guide: www.crimesurvivorsnola.org/sak-tracking

Did you know the City of New Orleans has new violence intervention and prevention programs? @nolahealthdept’s Office of Violence Prevention provides: 1) Healthcare-based violence intervention: umcno’s Seeds of NOLA Trauma Recovery Center, which provides wrap-around care for victim-survivors of violence and their families and hospital-based violence interruption/intervention & 2) Community-based violence prevention: @ubuntuvillagenola Peace Ambassadors community-based violence interrupters @cracircles Violence Intervention Program (VIP) for schools Please share information on these important programs that #supportsurvivors! Links are in our bio, and these programs are now in our RESOURCES at crimesurvivorsnola.org.

The criminal legal system can be very confusing, especially for victim-survivors of violence who have just experienced major trauma. We've made a guide to help victim-survivors understand the criminal legal process after violent crime. It explains how the criminal trial process works from a victim-survivor perspective. While it focuses on Orleans Parish, it can still be helpful for those in other parts of Louisiana. We've linked it in our bio, or just scroll to the bottom of any page of our website crimesurvivorsnola.org and click "OUR GUIDE TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL PROCESS". #supportsurvivors #policyfriday

Today is #ptsdawareness day, and we’re sharing an article from @npr on the U.S. Surgeon General’s new advisory: Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis in America. Read the article at the link in our bio. “Since 2020, firearm related injury has been the leading cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents (ages 1–19), surpassing motor vehicle crashes, cancer, and drug overdose and poisoning.” “Based on a nationally representative survey, 54% of U.S, adults report that either they, or a family member, have experienced a firearm-related incident.” These alarming statistics highlight the widespread impacts of firearm violence which reverberate throughout communities, impacting family, friends, and bystanders. Please visit www.crimesurvivorsnola.org for our local resource guide for survivors of violence, friends, and family members. You can also reach out to Seeds of NOLA at University Medical Center - Louisiana’s first Trauma Recovery Center - which provides free wrap around care for victim-survivors and family members in Orleans Parish. Call 504.702.4335 to learn more.

This Saturday June 29, the @cityofnola Mayor’s Office and Partners are hosting a PUBLIC SAFETY SUMMIT at University Medical Center New Orleans from 9am to 3pm. This FREE event “will bring together professionals and practitioners from a broad spectrum of disciplines working to address violence and public safety in our community. We will hear from our top law enforcement officials and community leaders about what they are doing to protect our city, address root causes of violence, and promote a safer New Orleans.” @crimesurvivorsnola will be at the RESOURCE FAIR portion after 11am with Crime Survivors Guidebooks and bookmarks! Register at: nolapublicsafetysummit.eventbrite.com We’ve also included the link in our bio! Event partners: @crj_du @ubuntuvillagenola @nolahealthdept @nopdnews @unitedwaysela @verainstitute @tulanevpi umcno @tca_nola Supported by the @macfound Safety and Justice Challenge

We've got a long list of RESOURCES for victim-survivors of violence in the New Orleans area, and they are now searchable. Check it out at https://www.crimesurvivorsnola.org/resources OR visit the link in our bio! #supportsurvivors #advocacyheals #traumarecoveryisprevention

Posts tagged Community Mediation Services

Community Mediation Services announces the release of CRIME SURVIVORS GUIDEBOOK (2nd Ed.) & WEBSITE

Rose PrestonDecember 9, 2019Crime Survivors Guide, Crime Survivors, Survivors, Survivors Guidebook, Book Release, Community Mediation Services, Donnelley Center, Shawn M. Donnelley Center, Rose Preston, Crime Survivors Nola, Survivors Nola, Crime Survivors Guidebook