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Victim Assistance Program
Program Services
Immediate Support
On Scene Response, Crisis Intervention, Emotional Support, Death Notification, Interview Assistance, transportation, needs assessment, safety planning
Ongoing Support
Accompany to: Counseling, Court, Sex Assault Exam, Hospital, Medical Appointments, Other Service Providers, Case Updates, Order of Protection
Resources & Referrals
Adult protective services, child protection services, clothing assistance, counseling/mental health provider, crime scene clean up, crime victim's compensation, employment, financial or credit counseling, food assistance, foreign government, HIV/STI testing, housing/shelter, interpreter services, legal services, local agencies, medical services, personal effects cleaning and repair, tribal agencies
Court Support
Trial prep / prosecutor meetings, court accompaniment, victim impact statements, court updates, family briefings arranged
General Information for All Victims
- If you have reported your crime to the police, an investigator will be assigned to your case and will contact you as soon as possible
- VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) is a system designed to automatically call victims by phone when their perpetrator is released from jail in Montana. This service is free of charge. To register for this service please call 800-456-3076
- If you or someone in your family suffered an injury or death as a result of a crime, you might qualify for compensation by the state of Montana Crime Victims' Compensation Program, financial compensation may be paid for lost wages, medical bills, counseling expenses, and funeral/burial assistance. To speak to an advocate about qualifying please contact your local Victim/Witness office listed on the back of this brochure (pdf). You may also call Montana victims' compensation at 406-444-3653
VINE - Victim Information Notification Everyday
To access offender location and custody information, call 800-456-3076
Visit the Vine site for more information.
Protection Orders - Montana Specific
Link for protection order information, steps to apply, and downloadable forms.
Types of Victimization
Domestic Violence
- Are you being abused?
- Protection order information and resources
- National Domestic Violence Support website
- Local Resources
- Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA): Call 406-679-5145 or Email Hardin Nancy Old Elk.
- Healing Hearts: Call Lame Deer at 406-477-6412. It is not closed.
- YWCA Billings: Call YWCA Billings at 406-252-6303.
- Angie's Piazza: Call Angie's Piazza at 406-255-0611.
- Community Crisis Center: Call Community Crisis Center at 406-259-8800.
Sexual Assault
- Are you being abused?
- Protection order information and resources
- National websites:
Aggravated Assault
Child Abuse
Homicide
Vehicular Homicide
Human Trafficking
- Local Websites
- National Websites
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples
- Global Indigenous Council
- Montana Native Women's Coalition, Call 406-969-2552, Located in Billings, MT
Robbery
Strangulation
- Strangulation: a Concerning Type of Domestic Abuse
- Facts Victims of Strangulation Choking Need to Know (PDF)
Native Centric Resources for Multiple Topics
Montana Crime Victim Rights
- The right to information about all events related to the case
- The right to have a prosecutor and/or victim advocate present when a victim is interviewed
- The right to know the offender's location at all times from arrest until his or her release from supervision
- The right to protection from intimidation, harassment, discrimination, and abuse throughout the criminal justice system
- The right to attend court proceedings unless the court determines that the victim's absence is necessary to a fair trial
- The right to one free copy of public documents in their case, Court documents are available from the clerk of the court in the county in which the case was prosecuted
- Victims and immediate family members of sex crimes have the right to request that the sentencing judge, parole board, or probation officer order the offender to have no contact with them
Mission Statement
The mission of the Victim/Witness Specialist Program is to offer compassionate support and resources to victims, witnesses, and survivors of crime and crisis through effective response and community outreach.
Grant Support
This project was supported by Grant Number 15-V8892146 awarded by the Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC) through the office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Victim Assistance Program
Physical Address
121 Third Street W
1st Floor
Hardin, MT 59034
Phone: 406-665-9727
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Cher Lopez
Victim/Witness SpecialistPhone: 406-679-0148Additional Phone: 406-665-9727