Victims' Assistance Program
The Rhode Island State Police has implemented a Victims' Assistance Program to further enhance the Division's efforts and response when dealing with victims/witnesses of crimes or traumatic incidents. The main focus of this program is to provide a trained Victims' Assistance Provider who will assist victims/witnesses during the period immediately following the incident. The Victims' Assistance Provider will focus solely on the victims'/witnesses' needs to help the process in determining the necessary and most-appropriate follow-up/ referrals for further assistance.
The Victims' Assistance Provider will be available during both regular business hours and on an on-call basis. The provider can assist both adult and child victims/witnesses of crime. The following services can be provided:
- Crisis Counseling
- Follow-up Contact/Updates on Investigation
- Therapy
- Group Treatment
- Finding a Shelter or Safe House
- Information and Referral
- Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy
- Emergency Financial Assistance to Meet Basic Security and Safety Needs
- Emergency Legal Advocacy
- Assistance with registering for the Victims Assistance Portal
- Victim Compensation Funds
- Personal Advocacy
The Victims' Assistance Provider assigned to the Division is Paola Velez from Family Service of Rhode Island. Contact information for Ms. Velez is as follows:
Phone: (401) 764-5719
Email address: Paola.Velez@risp.gov
Rhode Island State Police Headquarters
311 Danielson Pike
North Scituate, RI 02857
If you are a victim of crime or a witness to a crime please contact Ms. Velez, our Victims' Services Provider, so that we can help you get access to the services you need.