Crime Victim Center of Erie County (16 Articles with 64,323 total views)
The Crime Victim Center of Erie County, Inc., was established in 1973 as the Erie County Rape Crisis Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting sexual assault victims and their families and friends. In 1986, Victim Witness Services was established for victims of other violent crimes, their familes and friends, and also to serve the witnesses to violent crimes.
The goal of the agency's programs and services is to lessen the impact of crime through counseling, education and advocacy. In 2002, we changed our name to Crime Victim Center of Erie County, which we feel better reflects our mission and services.
Funding for our agency comes from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, Department of Human Services' Mental Health/Mental Retardation Unit, United Way of Erie, United Fund of Corry Area, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and through donations and fundraising events.
Additionally, court advocacy programming is funding through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency from the Rights and Services Act (RASA), Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
Victim advocates are trained to support victims of crime. They offer emotional support, victims' rights information, and assistance filling out crime victim-related forms. Advocates often accompany victims and families to criminal justice proceedings. While sometimes overlooked, personal attacks such as burglary, identity theft, and other "nonviolent" crimes can leave a lasting impression on a person's life.
The Crime Victim Center of Erie County offers victim advocacy free of charge, and confidentially. Our staff can also help victims make arrangements with other agencies in the human service system, including emergency shelter and transportation if necessary. The Crime Victim Center strives to serve victims of all crimes through counseling, court accompaniment, and even a guiding hand throughout the court system. Families, friends, and crime witnesses can also find out about how the courts handle both juvenile and criminal cases. The Crime Victim Center has a 24/7 helpline available at no cost and is confidential. Call 814-455-9414 for more information or any questions.
Join our host couple Nancy and John Hilbert on September 6th at the Perry Monument at Presque Isle for Moonlight on the Bay, Erie's premier fall event. The evening will promote many of the amazing businesses and resources that Erie has to offer as we serve lavish local hors'doeuvres, along with unique food truck cuisines, and musical talent meanwhile giving you an opportunity to mingle with other friends of the CVC while enjoying our beautiful bay at sunset
In light of the release of the Grand Jury report on clergy sex abuse, we want to let victims know help is available.
Crime Victim Center of Erie County offers a variety of services and our counselors are specially trained to handle child and sexual abuse.
On Saturday, November 26, 2016,
TransFamily of NW PA held their third annual Transgiving potluck dinner at
Crime Victim Center of Erie County, 125 W 18th St, Erie PA. Members of Erie region's transgender community and their family and friends enjoyed a delicious dinner and some great time socializing. Photos are by Melanie Shubitowski.
June 27th is National Aids Testing Day.
Community Health Net, 1202 State St, Erie PA, will be offering free, confidential HIV testing to anyone interested. The first 100 people to come in and be tested will receive a gift card to a local establishment. The testing will be between 9 and 3 on the 2nd floor. Get tested and know your status!
FORGE is a national organization based out of Wisconsin whose mission is to support, educate and advocate for the rights and lives of transgender individuals and SOFFAs (Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies). In honor of April's Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), FORGE held a contest to design an adult coloring page to be used for both trans survivors of sexual violence and victim serving agencies to assist trans survivors, in conjunction with the prompt, "how do you help transgender survivors weather the storms?"
As LGBT History Month comes to a close, and the holiday season waits right around the corner, we are made aware of those whose need to live as their authentic selves required facing more than a disapproving stare. Coming out, itself a wonderfully life-affirming act, frequently opens a person up to negative reaction. The very visibility of activism takes bravery beyond measure.
Crime Victim Center will host our 4th annual Moonlight on the Bay gala at the Perry Monument on September 11, 2015. This unique event will be sure to amaze as we bring together the best Erie has to offer including gourmet Hors d'Oeuvres, local wines and locally brewed craft beers .Performing this year are the Mercyhurst D'Angelo Department of Music's string quartet followed by The Sam Hyman Band. Food and beverages, great company with the leaders iWith your help we can make a huge impact on crime in our region.
Picture yourself in a tuxedo or formal gown at Perry Monument on a beautiful early September evening. Imagine sipping locally produced wine and other beverages and partaking in fabulous food. Be surrounded by extraordinary natural foliage along with exquisite centerpieces, fine music, and first class hospitality. Enjoy meeting and visiting with a select group of Erie dignitaries and socialites including our honorary chair, Michelle Ridge and our chair couples, Mr. & Mrs Terrence and Patricia Cavanaugh and Mr. & Mrs. Michael and Craige Victor.
Crime Victim Center of Erie County is hosting our third installment of the FREE
Community Awareness Night event on
July 7, 2015 at All An Act Theatre, 652 W 17th St, Erie PA from 5 to 7 p.m.
June is a month for many things, but did you know that June 15th was Elder Abuse Awareness Day? We don’t like to think about elder abuse, for many reasons. Unfortunately, the reality is that senior citizens
are at risk for sexual, physical, mental and financial abuse as well as neglect, abandonment and exploitation. Abusers could be family members, spouses, friends, neighbors, strangers or professionals. For many of these victims, the abuse is hidden. They are isolated by the situation, the abuser, their own shame or a combination of the three.
For too long, the responsibility to tell about child abuse has been on the children. We teach kids they have the right to say NO, then GO and TELL a trusted adult—a very good lesson! However, if we don't educate adults on what to do when those children come to them and disclose abuse, we as a community fail those kids.
On April 23, 2015,
Crime Victim Center of Erie County will host
our third annual speaker series featuring former NHL Star Theo Fleury as the keynote speaker at the Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie PA 16507 at 6:30 p.m. This event will allow Mr. Fleury to share his story of overcoming child abuse to become a hockey superstar and will help us educate the public on the services we provide to our community. Awareness and prevention education are the focus this year and we hope the public will walk away with a grasp of the impact that prevention can have in our community.
On Tuesday, March 24th,
Crime Victim Center of Erie County will host a Community Awareness Night presentation at the Blasco Memorial Library Admiral Room, 160 East Front Street, Erie PA from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Learn about the free services offered by Crime Victim Center, Bradley H. Foulk Children's Advocacy Center, and Northwestern Legal Services. Additionally, those in attendance will be educated on the latest best practices and prevention skills related to child safety, internet and cybercrimes, and victim's legal rights.
There will be a March against Crime 5k Run/Walk on March 8, 2015 at 9am at the Rotary Pavilion, Presque Isle State Park—Erie, PA. The event is a benefit for
Crime Victim Center of Erie. The fee is $25 and includes a long sleeve T-shirt. Erie Runners Club members may deduct $2.
Every 3.2 seconds someone in the United States becomes a victim of Identity Theft. It is the nation's fastest growing crime. Unfortunately, seniors are easy targets. In 2007, 22% of victims were ages 60 and older. Anyone can be a victim from the very young to the deceased. According to the Social Security Administration, seniors, the critically ill, and the deceased are appealing targets because of their significant assets, their good credit, and federal entitlement checks.
