• Get Help in the City

  • Legal Services

Break the Cycle

  • Break the Cycle provides young victims of dating violence in Washington, DC, with legal services to help them find safety and pursue justice. Break the Cycle offers assistance with the following legal issues:

       • Obtaining protection or restraining orders
       • Handling violations of restraining orders
       • Child custody
       • Child support
       • Visitation
       • Divorce

  • Main

    202-849-6289

  • Website

    www.breakthecycle.org

  • Email

    legalservices@breakthecycle.org

DC Volunteer Lawyers’ Project

  • Provides high-quality, free legal services to low-income DC residents, especially survivors of domestic violence in civil protection order, custody, visitation, divorce, child support, and immigration cases.

  • Main

    202-885-5542

  • Address

    5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Suite 440 Washington, DC 20015

  • Website

    www.dcvlp.org

  • Email

    cgwilliam@dcvlp.org

Love Is Respect

  • Loveisrespect is a 24/7 hotline and online chat specifically designed for teens and young adults experiencing dating violence and their friends and family. The services are free and confidential. Loveisrespect is a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Break the Cycle.

    Text LOVEIS to 22522

  • Respect Helpline

    1-877-331-9474

  • TTY

    1-866-331-8453

  • Website

    http://www.loveisrespect.org/legal-help

Metropolitan Police Department Deaf and Hard of Hearing Liaison Unit

Metropolitan Police Department Domestic Violence Unit

  • Can arrange transportation and assist with filing a police report and collecting evidence.

  • Main

    202-727-7137

  • Address

    300 Indiana Avenue NW, Room 3156 Washington, DC 20001

  • Website

    http://mpdc.dc.gov/node/139072

Metropolitan Police Department Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Liaison Unit

Metropolitan Police Department Sexual Assault Unit

  • The Sexual Assault Unit can arrange for transport to Washington Hospital Center, can assist with an application to the Crime Victim Compensation Program, and can take evidence without pressing charges (victim/survivor has 90 days to press charges).

  • Main

    202-727-3700

  • Address

    300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 3042 Washington, DC 20001

  • Website

    http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/sex-assault-unit

Metropolitan Police Department Victim Specialists Unit

  • The policy of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is to treat all victims in a respectful, responsive and compassionate manner. To that end, the department's Victim Specialists Unit provides support, information, and referrals to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Victim Specialists in the unit act as a support system and conduit for victims/survivors; with hope of empowering victims. Moreover, the Victim Specialists Unit aims to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the District of Columbia by establishing relationships with the community and being a resource for victims and their families.

  • Main

    202-724-4339

  • Address

    300 Indiana Ave, NW, Room 3121 Washington, DC 20001

  • Website

    http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/victim-specialists-unit-vsu

Metropolitan Police Department Youth and Family Services Division

National Center for Victims of Crime

Network for Victim Recovery DC (NVRDC)

  • Please note, NVRDC can provide these services to victims of general crime in addition to victims of sexual assault.

    For Therapeutic and Advocacy Services:
    NVRDC provides crisis intervention and will provide an assessment of short-term physical health, mental health, and personal needs and attempt to meet those needs with direct services or targeted network referrals. NVRDC also provides case management services which include, but are not limited to: safety planning; victim notification; Crime Victims Compensation assistance; criminal justice support and court accompaniment; interpretation services; civil legal services; victim’s rights representation; and resource information and referrals.

  • Main

    202-742-1727

  • Address

    6856 Eastern Ave NW, Washington, DC 20012

  • Website

    www.nvrdc.org

United States Attorney’s Office

  • Victim Witness Assistance: 202-252-7130

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is unique among U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the size and scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital. On the local side, these prosecutions extend from misdemeanor drug possession cases to sexual assaults to murders. On the federal side, these prosecutions extend from child pornography to gangs to financial fraud to terrorism. In both roles, the Office is committed to being responsive and accountable to the citizens of the District of Columbia. The Attorney's Office can provide victim assistance and advocacy after the case has been referred to and accepted by the USAO.

    • Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section: The Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section is responsible for the prosecution of all felony and misdemeanor sexual assaults (involving both adult and child victims), child physical abuse, and domestic violence - along with associated crimes such as burglary, kidnapping, robbery, stalking and weapons charges. The Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section prosecutes each case vertically, that is, one prosecutor is responsible for the case from the initial interview of the victim, through the investigation and charging process, to trial, or other disposition. The Section also investigates and prosecutes internet-facilitated child sexual exploitation and human trafficking cases.  Prosecutors in the Section are co-located with Victim Advocates from the Office’s Victim/Witness Assistance Unit and work closely with them during all phases of the investigation and prosecution.
    • Victim Witness Assistance Unit: The Victim Witness Assistance Unit provides assistance to victims and witnesses of serious crime while they are involved with the criminal justice system.  Unit help victims understand how the criminal justice system works and assist with restitution and services.

  • Main Line

    202-252-7566

  • TTD Line

    202-514-7558

  • Website

    http://www.justice.gov/usao/dc/

  • Email

    dc.outreach@usdoj.gov