New York

ACCESS/Argus Community, Inc. provides intensive case management for HIV+ people, including former inmates and their families with or without Medicaid. Services include case management, home visits, 24-hour availability, crisis intervention and short term counseling, and advocacy. The ACCESS program has a clinical case manager on staff who provides appropriate health referrals and conducts follow-up appointments/visits with individual clients.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (CLCHC) is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and people living with HIV/AIDS in the New York City metropolitan area, regardless of ability to pay. CLCHC offers a range of sensitive and non-judgmental primary medical care services, including: primary care, HIV primary care, gynecology, mental health services, oral health care, transgender health services, adolescent services, rapid HIV testing, and care coordination. Mental health services include individual psychotherapy, group therapy, transgender counseling and education, substance use assessment and referral, and psychiatric services. (Mental health services are limited to patients with the following insurance: ADAP, Medicaid, Medicare, and HealthFirst.

Since 1977, The Crime Victims Treatment Center has been helping survivors of interpersonal violence heal.  Our support comes in the forms of crisis intervention, individual and group trauma-focused therapy, legal advocacy, complementary therapy and psychiatric consultation.  We are available from the moments following an assault, all the way through the culmination of a survivor’s healing process.  All of our services are confidential and completely free of charge.

Service area: New York City
Work with: All survivors of violence, crime and interpersonal trauma.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: CVTC operates a hotline for inmates in New York State who have experienced sexual assault or harassment.  The hotline offers crisis counseling, along with longer term counseling, and advocacy on behalf of the inmate with the NYS Department of Corrections.
Services for survivors after release include: All of CVTC’s trauma-focused healing services are available to individuals post-release.
Fees: All of CVTC’s services are provided free of charge.
Additional Information: Services are offered in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Hebrew.  Each client is individually assessed.  If CVTC is unable to provide services for any reason, a referral to the appropriate program is provided.  

The Rockland Family Shelter is a privately operated, grassroots organization dedicated to ending violence against women, children, and youth. Services include a 24-hour emergency hotline; culturally sensitive bilingual services for adults and adolescents; medical and legal information and referral services; short-term and long-term therapy for recent and past survivors of sexual assault, incest, and child sexual abuse; and professionally led, time-limited therapy groups for survivors of sexual assault, abuse and incest. The Rockland Family Shelter also offers support services for friends and family members of survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse, as well as education and training programs in the community.

Crisis Services is the most comprehensive crisis center in upstate New York. Established in 1968, as a private, not for profit mental health, human service and crime victim service agency, Crisis Services is dedicated to promoting the health, safety and well being of the community through prevention, education, immediate intervention and access to community wide resources 24 hours a day. The Crisis Services Advocate Program has been the certified NYS Department of Health certified Rape Crisis Center for Buffalo and Erie Co. since 1983 and is a NYS Approved Non Residential Domestic Violence Service Provider. Crisis Services fulfills community needs through the following program services: 24 Hour Hotline-Crisis Counseling Center, Mobile Outreach Services, Trauma Response Service and The Advocate Program (Rape, Domestic Violence, Family Violence and Elder Abuse). In addition to these core programs, Crisis Services oversees the Police Mental Health Coordination Project, the Rape Crisis Advisory Committee and serves as the administrative home for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Erie County.

Service area: Erie County
Work with:  All survivors of sexual assault.  We also work with friends, family and loved ones of survivors.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; and/or information and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; and/or information and referrals; counseling; case management with needs related to sexual assault.
Services for loved ones include: all of the above.
Fees: Services are free.

The Crime Victims Assistance Program of Family Services provides 24 hour assistance to all crime victims including survivors of rape and sexual abuse who reside in or were victimized in Dutchess County. The Crime Victims Assistance Program provides a 24-hour hotline, professional counseling, legal advocacy and accompaniment, support groups, information and referrals, and financial assistance. Services are available to survivors of crime and their families free of charge.

The overriding mission of The Fortune Society is to support successful re-entry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. We do this by believing in the power of individuals to change; building lives through service programs shaped by the needs and experience of our clients; and changing minds through education and advocacy to promote the creation of a fair, humane, and truly rehabilitative correctional system.

Service area: New York City
Work with: Anyone who has ever been arrested, detained or convicted for any crime, and from any state. We do not discriminate based on length since incarceration, type of conviction, etc.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Fortune’s NYC DOC-funded Individualized Correction Achievement Network (I-CAN) program currently operates in 9 facilities throughout Rikers. For five days a week, participants come from George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) and George Motchan Detention Center (GMDC) to engage in a full day of service offerings. I-CAN participants will still be able to participate in our soft-skills trainings including Workforce 101, Relapse Prevention, 24/7 Dads, Parenting Workshops, Creative Writing Classes, and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), all of which are conducted on Rikers. They are also able to take advantage of the fee-free partner offerings which we have arranged, including: ANDO International’s CPR, OSHA 10, and OSHA 30 Certification Trainings; Solar One’s GPRO Electrical Certification Training; and NYC DOHMH’s Food Handlers Certification Training.
Services for survivors after release include: Fortune launched the Better Living Center (BLC) in 2011, which is New York City’s first Article 31 NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH)-licensed outpatient mental health treatment facility dedicated to meeting the heightened needs of individuals impacted by the justice system. Fortune’s innovative Better Living Center (BLC) offers intensive care to address the unique and complex mental health needs of individuals impacted by the justice system. Since its opening, the BLC has implemented clinically sound, evidence-based practices manifested through a holistic, one-stop model, consistent with Fortune’s agency-wide model of care and service provision. Licensed Social Workers develop each client’s individual treatment plan, including referral to internal services and external resources, such as medical care, when needed. The clinic focuses on addressing multiple prevalent areas that are critical to successful outcomes of treatment.  Some of these areas include immediate assessments of mental health stability, establishing economic stability, performing benefit evaluation, treatment of co-occurring disorders with a focus on relapse prevention, developing familial harmony, obtaining stable housing, pursuing education, resolving trauma, and processing grief and loss, as well as developing insight into mental illness which is integral for collaborative care with clients acting as their own vehicles of progress.  Most importantly, each client receives person-centered care.
Services for loved ones include: N/A Unless they have been arrested, detained or convicted.
Fees: None
Additional Information: Fortune offers a holistic array of programs for formerly incarcerated low-income New Yorkers through a “one-stop shop” model of services that includes case management (crisis intervention, needs assessment, referrals and counseling), housing (emergency, congregate, and scatter-site), education (literacy, math, and High School Equivalency (HSE) exam preparation), employment services (job readiness, subsidized transitional work, hard skills training, job placement, and retention), outpatient substance abuse treatment (including Moral Reconation Therapy and trauma-specific Seeking Safety evidence-based interventions), family services (parenting classes, support groups, family reunification, and legal services), HIV/AIDS services (during and post-incarceration), outpatient mental health treatment services (psycho-social assessments, individual and group therapy, psychotropic medication management), care management (healthcare navigation, connection to health insurance/Medicaid, wellness care coordination), food and nutrition programming (free healthy hot meals, nutrition education workshops, cooking demonstrations with fresh produce distribution, dietary counseling), and lifetime aftercare.  We also offer alternatives to incarceration (ATI), including specialized services for individuals with substance abuse histories and mental health issues.

Hudson Valley Community Services (HVCS) is the largest organization solely dedicated to providing HIV/AIDS services, prevention, education, and outreach to individuals and families in New York’s Lower Mid-Hudson Valley Region. With 7 Regional Offices, HVCS provides the following client and support services: case management (intensive and grant-funded), food pantry, transportation, chemical dependency services, mental health services, and support groups.

The New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sexual violence.

Formed in 1987 by rape crisis advocates as a mutual support group, the mission and purpose of NYSCASA rapidly evolved from basic networking. The Coalition grew to include technical assistance, resource development and policy advocacy for the more than 100 Rape Crisis programs, sister agencies and collaborators statewide that work with survivors of sexual violence and their families.

Today, we work with local, regional state and national organizations all of whom are dedicated to ending sexual violence.

Service area: As a coalition, we serve member programs throughout the state.
Work with: NYSCASA typically doesn’t provide direct services, though as a statewide resource, NYSCASA can help connect any survivor of sexual assault to a service provider in their area.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Incarcerated survivors may write to NYSCASA via free, confidential legal mail. To do so, simply label the envelope “Legal Mail” before it is put into postage. NYSCASA’s address is in the Department Of Corrections and Supervision’s legal mail address book, which is how they process legal mail coming into facilities. NYSCASA has partnered with NYS DOCCS, and serves as an independent reporting mechanism in New York for the Prison Rape Elimination Act in this way.
Services for survivors after release include: NYSCASA can help connect survivors to local resources and service providers after their release.
Services for loved ones include: None
Fees: None
Additional Information: None

Rape Crisis Service (RCS) provides free support services to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones in Rochester, Albion, Batavia, Mt. Morris and Warsaw. Services include: crisis intervention for sexual assault survivors and their loved ones, short-term counseling and referrals, support through medical examinations and treatment, advocacy and support during interaction with law enforcement, court accompaniment, and community education programs. RCS helps men, women, and children, regardless of whether the assault happened hours or decades ago. All services are free and confidential.

Safe Horizon’s mission is to provide support, prevent violence, and promote justice for survivors of crime and abuse, their families and communities. Survivors of sexual abuse in New York City can contact the 24-hour Rape and Sexual Assault Hotline for: confidential and non-judgmental support; information about the legal process and victim compensation; and referrals to sexual assault examiners, rape crisis programs, professional counselors, and support groups.

The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is the nation’s largest crime-victim service agency for the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and HIV-affected (LGTBH) communities. AVP offers free and confidential support to victims of bias crimes, domestic violence, pick-up crimes, police misconduct, HIV-related violence, rape, and sexual assault. Individual and group counseling are available at AVP, while a bilingual (English/Spanish) crisis hotline offers 24-hour assistance from counselors and trained volunteers.

YWCA Mohawk Valley has provided support and advocacy to survivors of sexual and domestic violence for more than 25 years. YWCA MV offers a 24-hour domestic and sexual violence hotline in Oneida County, and a 24-hour sexual violence hotline in Herkimer County. YWCA also offers the following comprehensive services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence: information and referrals; counseling and support groups; emergency and transitional shelter; case management; advocacy and accompaniment to hospitals, law enforcement, and courts; assistance with Crime Victims Board Claims; violence prevention education; and professional training. All services are free and confidential, and provided to both children and adults regardless of when the violence occurred or if the incident was reported to the police.

Service area: Herkimer and Oneida Counties.
Work with: All primary and secondary victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotlines, mail or email; hospital accompaniment; court and legal accompaniment for sexual assault cases; and information and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as, support groups and counseling.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free of Charge.
Additional Information: Interpreters are available if the agency is notified prior to advocacy services scheduled to be provided. Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence education programs are also offered to employees.

The New York State Commission of Corrections acts as the regulatory oversight agency of New York State Department of Correctional Services. The Commission will investigate state prisons, county jails, and police lock-ups. Staff are trained to conduct regular inspections and site visits to regulate compliance. All complaints and grievances must be sent via mail so that there is written documentation. Criminal cases will be turned over to the proper law enforcement agency. Administrative investigations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The Office of the Public Advocate has an Ombudsman Services Unit, which assists constituents (including inmates) who have complaints, problems, or inquiries involving government-related services at the city, state, and federal levels. The unit provides information and referrals and works closely with city agencies to find solutions to problems.

Attica Legal Aid is comprised of the County Public Defender’s Office and the Legal Aid Society. Both units respond to all inquiries for legal services concerning state prisons in their jurisdiction (no federal cases). Attica Legal Aid will work with state prisoners who are challenging administrative decisions regarding the Department of Corrections. They also serve as a general source of information for all inmates on a wide range of legal topics.

In conjunction with a law school program, students handle an extremely limited number of civil rights cases for female prisoners and detainees in New York State. All requests for assistance from inmates and their families must be sent via mail (no phone calls).

Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York (PLS) is a civil legal services program for incarcerated felons in New York State prisons with regional offices in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca and Plattsburgh. PLS handles cases involving mental health and medical care, prison disciplinary matters, excessive use of force, conditions of confinement, sentence calculation and jail time credit. PLS advocates engage in administrative advocacy, provide representation in individual lawsuits and impact litigation, and make available forms and background materials to prisoners. Decisions to provide legal counsel are determined on a case-by-case basis.

The Prisoners’ Rights Project (PRP) assists prisoners in the New York City jails and New York State prisons with respect to the conditions of confinement. Most of PRP’s work consists of class action lawsuits designed to stop unlawful practices and improve conditions with respect to matters such as medical and mental health care, staff violence, dangerous or unsanitary physical conditions, and denial of education to young people. PRP generally does not represent individual prisoners in lawsuits seeking damages or other relief affecting only themselves. However, PRP does try to help prisoners individually by contacting prison and jail officials about problems involving access to medical care, threats to safety, and access to essential programs and services, among others. PRP also provides prisoners with informational materials on their legal rights, including how to bring their own lawsuits in federal and state courts.

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) provides free legal services to low-income people and people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender nonconforming. SRLP provides advice and referral for a wide variety of legal issues. Sometimes, SRLP can also provide more help, such as advocacy, help with a case you are bringing on your own, or, more rarely, representation in a legal action. SRLP also gives technical assistance and training to other lawyers. If you are working with a lawyer who does not have a lot of experience with trans or intersex issues, feel free to have your attorney contact SRLP. SRLP may be able to help them to help you. SRLP also offers a pen pal project for incarcerated transgender, intersex, and gender non conforming people who are interested in receiving friendship and emotional support from volunteers within the community. Transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming survivors of sexual abuse behind bars can contact SRLP by writing to the address above or by calling the office during regular business hours.

For survivors who have been released and are in need of legal assistance, please visit the office during intake hours listed above. Intake interviews can be conducted in English, Spanish, or Hindi upon request. Please schedule ahead if you’re in need of an interpreter. Intake for new cases is conducted only during drop in hours. Clients are seen on a first come, first served basis. SRLP often cannot see people who arrive during the last hour of drop-in hours. Bring all papers you have about your case with you. If you have questions or cannot make it to any of these times, call the office and follow the prompts for legal help. SRLP cannot see people without an appointment at any other time. All services are limited to people in New York state.