Crime Victim Advocate Office
Mission
The Crime Victim Advocate (CVA) office is a program of the Office of Planning and Grants. The program is committed to providing free and confidential services to survivors of violent crime, including information, opportunities, advocacy, and support, especially in the civil criminal justice system processes.
We aspire to empower and assist survivors of crime in their recovery.
On behalf of victims, we act as liaisons between victims and a variety of justice system departments and personnel.
We advocate for victims' needs and wishes within the system and help victims determine which courses of action are best for them.
We recognize the impact crime has had on victims, and support the important role victims play in criminal justice processes.
We work to ensure victims are treated fairly and respectfully and provide services that lessen the impact of the crime and restore victims' losses.
We seek to remove all potential barriers (physical, psychological, cultural, etc.) to our services and the services of the criminal and civil justice systems.
| Listen to you | Tell you about Crime Victim Compensation and help you fill out the forms |
| Provide confidential services | Inform you of community services available to you |
| Provide crisis counseling, emotional support and guidance | Help you recover your property or receive restitution |
| Inform you of your rights | Help you inform your employer if you have to miss work during a trial |
| Explain how the court process works | Provide a secure place to wait during court proceedings |
| Find information for you about what is happening in your court case | Assist you with your application for an Order of Protection if you are a victim of partner/family assault, sexual assault, rape, incest or stalking |
| Legal Advocacy | Information and Referrals |
In Missoula:
- Orders of Protection (830-3830)
- Advocacy for Victims of Violent Crime (830-3832)
- Advocacy for Victims of Property Crime (830-3837)
TOLL FREE: 1-866-921-6995
FAX: (406) 830-3838
OFFICE: 500 N Higgins, Suite 201
MAILING: 200 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802
OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday (8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.)
| Resource (and link) | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 |
| YWCA Crisis Hotline | 542-1944 |
| City Attorney | 552-6020 |
| County Attorney | 258-4737 |
| St. Patrick Hospital | 543-7271 |
| First STEP rape crisis center | 329-5776 |
| Community Hospital | 728-4100 |
| Child Abuse Help Line | 866-820-KIDS (3437) |
| Montana Legal Services | 543-8343 |
| Child & Family Services | 523-4100 |
| First Call For Help | 549-5555 or 211 |
| Crime Victim Compensation | 800-498-6455 |
| Alcohol & Drug Services | |
| Turning Point | 532-9700 |
| Missoula Indian Center | 721-2700 |
| SSTEP Program - Seeley/Swan | 677-3177 |
| Food & Clothing Services | |
| Goodwill | 549-6969 |
| Missoula Food Bank | 549-0543 |
| Poverello Center | 728-8526 |
| Salvation Army | 549-0710 |
| Secret Seconds - YWCA | 549-1610 |
| Shelter & Housing Services | |
| Poverello Center | 728-8526 |
| Missoula Housing Authority | 549-4113 |
| Salvation Army | 549-0710 |
| Human Resource Council | 728-3710 |
| YWCA Shelter | 542-1944 |
| WORD | 593-3550 |
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is a Temporary Order of Protection?
- A Temporary Order of Protection is a court order, signed by a judge, that prohibits someone from coming to your house or workplace. It can prohibit that person from having any direct or indirect contact with you.
- Orders of protection are legal documents that offer victims of violent crime a measure of protection by setting limits on what an offender can legally do. Petitions for orders of protection can be filed in a justice, city, municipal or district court. The judge may order conditions he or she believes are necessary to protect a victim. Victims can ask the court for an order of protection that:
-
- prohibits the offender from hurting them or threatening to hurt them
- directs the offender to leave their home and prohibits the offender from having any contact with them
- prevents the offender from transferring any property, except in the usual course of business
- prohibits the offender from being within 1,500 feet or other appropriate distance of the victim, any named family member, and the victim's work site or other specified place
- gives victims possession of necessary personal property
- prohibits the offender from possessing or using the firearm used in the assault
- Before a judge will sign a Temporary Order of Protection (TOP) you must qualify for the Order and complete paperwork. You are the "Petitioner" (the person requesting the Order). The person who should obey the Order is the "Respondent." You may qualify for a TOP if you have a family or partner relationship with the offender and are a victim of Family or Partner Assault. You may qualify if you have no family or partner relationship with the offender, but are a victim of one of the following crimes by the offender, Stalking, Sexual Assault, Sexual Intercourse Without Consent, or Incest.
- Orders of Protection are done at the Crime Victim Advocate's Office at 500 N Higgins, Suite 201. (Office Hours)
- What is Domestic Violence?
- Power and Control:
-
- Isolate you from family or friends
- Degrade you or humiliate you
- Intimidate you with looks or gestures
- Act unreasonably jealous or possessive
- Tell you that everything is your fault
- Threaten to harm you or her/himself
- Use your children to manipulate or harass you
- Violence:
-
- Push or shove you
- Slap, punch or kick you
- Restrain you
- Kick or punch walls or destroy property
- Abuse pets
- Sexually force or degrade you
- Strangle or choke you
- Deny or blame you for the abuse
- What is Stalking?
- Stalking is the act or crime of willfully and repeatedly following or harassing another person. Stalking occurs in circumstances that seriously alarm, annoy, intimidate or causes a reasonable person to fear injury or death because of express or implied threats.
- What is Sexual Assault?
- Sexual assault is conduct of a sexual or indecent nature toward another person accompanied by actual or threatened physical force that induces fear, shame, or mental suffering. Sexual assault is sexual contact that is forced upon a person without consent or that is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent (because of age or physical or mental incapacity.)
The Missoula Crime Victims' Advocate Program is supported in part by Rural D.V. Grant No. 2000-X036-MT-WR, awarded by the STOP VAWA Office, Office of Justice Programs and VOCA Grants Nos. 00-V01-80396 and 00-V01-80401, awarded by the Victims of Crime Act Grant Office, Office of Justice programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
