Survivor Resources
Virginia Resources
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (24/7 assistance available)
Helpline (24/7 assistance available):
LGBTQ Helpline:
Confidential PREA Reporting Hotline:
- Phone: 1-855-602-7001 (follow prompts)
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Virginia Statewide Hotline is a space where survivors and people impacted by violence, like friends, family, professionals, and the general public, can connect with trained advocates. Advocates will listen, offer support, and connect you to resources in your area.
Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center:
Bilingual Hotline for Spanish-speaking victims of violence. The Hotline is operated by bilingual and bicultural staff and volunteers trained as victim advocates to receive calls from individuals seeking safety, information, and support.
Virginia Lawyer Referral Service:
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service will connect you to a lawyer in your area for $35. You receive a consultation of up to a half hour with him or her.
VaLegalAid.org is a Virginia Partnership for Equal Justice Website Project. It is an ambitious attempt by Virginia legal aid offices and their partners to provide complete, accurate, up-to-date information on poverty law issues in an interactive and easily accessible format. The intent is to allow access to this information by legal aid attorneys, pro bono attorneys, clients, advocates and providers of services to legal aid's traditional client base.
PERK Tracking System Victim Portal:
- Access the PERK tracking system victim portal at: https://perk.dfs.virginia.gov/
- For assistance accessing Victim Portal, please contact the PERK Tracking System Coordinator:
- Phone: 804-588-4050
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The PERK Tracking System is a web-based application that can be accessed from any device that is connected to the internet. The status and location of PERKs are tracked using each PERK’s unique PERK ID/Barcode #. No personal identifying information is entered into the system. Virginia’s PERK Tracking System includes a Victim Portal, which allows a victim to use the System to view information regarding the status and location of his/her PERK.
For more information, see the Virginia Department of Forensic Science public website.
National Resources
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN):
RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual-assault organization and a national leader in online crisis intervention services. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline. All services are free, confidential and available 24/7.
1 in 6 for Sexually Abused or Assaulted Men:
Offers information and services for men with histories of unwanted or abusive sexual experiences, and anyone who cares about them.
Department of Defense (DoD) Sexual Assault Helpline:
DoD Safe Helpline is the sole secure, confidential, and anonymous crisis support specially designed for members of the Department of Defense community affected by sexual assault.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
The Trevor Lifeline (for young LGBTQ+ people):
Information and support to LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline:
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and
Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) Legislation
Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) Legislation
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title19.2/chapter1.2/
Comprehensive legislation became effective July 1, 2016 requiring all PERKs to be submitted to the Department of Forensic Science for analysis within 60 days unless a statutory exemption applies. The legislation also addressed the retention of PERKs and victims’ rights regarding information about the PERK collected in their case. Mandatory use of the Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) Tracking system was added later, becoming effective July 1, 2020.
PERK Submission FAQ for Law Enforcement
Is the PERK required to be submitted for testing if the suspect is known?
- This is not a statutory specified reason for not submitting a PERK for analysis. Unless one of the five statutory reasons apply, the kit must be submitted for analysis. Any questions about whether another statutory reason/exception applies should be directed to the Commonwealth’s Attorney or the law enforcement agency’s legal advisor.
Is the PERK required to be submitted for testing if the victim is no longer cooperating with the investigation?
- This is not a statutory specified reason for not submitting a PERK for analysis. Unless one of the five statutory reasons apply, the kit must be submitted for analysis. Any questions about whether another statutory reason/exception applies should be directed to the Commonwealth’s Attorney or the law enforcement agency’s legal advisor.
Is the PERK required to be submitted for testing is prosecution is declined?
- This is not a statutory specified reason for not submitting a PERK for analysis. Unless one of the five statutory reasons apply, the kit must be submitted for analysis. Any questions about whether another statutory reason/exception applies should be directed to the Commonwealth’s Attorney or the law enforcement agency’s legal advisor.
PERK Tracking System
Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) Tracking System
https://perk.dfs.virginia.gov/
The Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) Tracking System is a web-based system that tracks the location and status of victim and OCME PERKS in Virginia. Collection sites, law enforcement, the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), and the Department of Forensic Science (DFS) are required to enter the status and location of PERKs in their possession into the System. Use of the PERK Tracking System is mandatory as of July 1, 2020. The Tracking System does not serve as an official chain of custody for any PERK. For training, access, and troubleshooting assistance, please contact the PERK Tracking System Coordinator at (804) 588-4050 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Victim Portal
https://perk.dfs.virginia.gov/
The Victim Portal of the PERK Tracking System provides access for survivors to view the location and testing status of the PERK collected in their case. The Tracking System does not contain any identifying information, nor does it contain analysis results. For assistance with access to the system, please contact the PERK Tracking System Coordinator at (804) 588-4050 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Training Opportunities
Trauma Informed Sexual Assault Investigations
(multiple dates and locations, virtual options available)
Hosted by the Office of Attorney General
The Office of the Attorney General is launching a training series on conducting trauma informed sexual assault investigations. The training content is based on the training curriculum developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is primarily focused on law enforcement response, but is useful for all disciplines that work directly with victims of sexual assault such as prosecutors, victim advocates, forensic nurses, dispatch, EMS, etc.
Presenters/Contact:
Teri Duesbery, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Victim Advocate
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(804) 786-8107
Teri Duesbery joined the Office of Attorney General as the SAKI Victim Advocate in 2019 after more than 10 years working in community-based advocacy. Prior to joining the OAG, Teri served as the Crisis Services and Program Manager at The Center for Sexual Assault Survivors. Teri also spent time with the International Association of Chiefs of Police as Project Coordinator on their Violence Against Women Initiative. Teri has extensive experience providing crisis intervention to survivors of sexual violence and working with law enforcement agencies and community partners to build the capacity for a trauma-informed response to sexual assault crimes.
Stephen Elswick, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Investigator
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(804) 786-3819
Stephen Elswick joined the Office of Attorney General as the SAKI Investigator in 2020 after retiring from a 27-year career in law enforcement. Stephen’s vast experience with the Roanoke County Police Department and later, the Aurora, Colorado Police Department encompasses field training, crime scene investigation, K-9 handling, and general and sex crimes investigation. Stephen has extensive experience conducting trauma-informed, victim centered sex crimes investigations alongside victim advocates to enhance the potential for prosecutable cases and maintain victim engagement with the criminal justice process.
Trauma-Responsive Investigations and Sexual Assault Victim Interviews
| Location |
Training Dates |
Open Application Period |
Notification of Application Status by |
| Fredericksburg, VA |
March 8-11 |
January 10-28 |
February 8 |
| Lynchburg, VA |
June 27-30 |
April 25-May 16 |
May 27 |
| Winchester, VA |
July 25-28 |
May 25-June 13 |
June 24 |
| Williamsburg, VA |
September 20-24 |
July 20-August 8 |
August 22 |
Hosted by the Department of Criminal Justice Services
Trauma-Responsive Investigations and Sexual Assault Victim Interviews is an intensive four-day course in which investigators, prosecutors and victim advocates learn the necessary skills to provide a trauma-informed response to adult sexual assault victims, including criminal investigation strategies and victim interviews. This interactive course combines lectures, experiential skill-building exercises, and reading assignments.
For more information: https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/training-events/trauma-responsive-investigations-and-sexual-assault-0
Contact:
Jennifer Kline
Department of Criminal Justice Services
Victims Services
(804) 225-3456
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sexual Assault Kit Initiative
https://sakitta.org/learn/
From the SAKI website: ”The National SAKI Training and Technical Assistance Program now provides an expanded set of online resources, webinars, and virtual courses to support sexual assault response. Choose from our growing catalogue of over 60 webinars. Take an online course from the SAKI Virtual Academy to deepen your knowledge and develop plans to address unsubmitted sexual assault kits. Create your own training curriculum and find resources to improve your community's response to sexual assault with the SAKI Toolkit.”
