Got questions about your legal rights?  The Vermont Commission on Women's handbook, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont might provide answers. Chapters include: Adoption, Guardianship and Emancipated Minors; Consumer Protection and Fair Credit; Domestic Relations; Education; Employment Rights; Housing and Property Rights; Immigration; Insurance; Name Changes; Public Accommodations; Public Assistance and Government Benefits; Reproductive Rights; Violence Against Women and Children; and Wills, Probate Court, and Advanced Directives.

Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
58 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676
(802) 241-2302 / 800-750-1213
800-845-4874 (TTY)
http://www.ccvs.state.vt.us/

The mission of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services is to join with victims, survivors, and those who interact with victims to implement, sustain, and support a system of services across Vermont that is victim-centered, comprehensive, and just. Programs include the Victims Compensation Program, which provides limited financial assistance to Vermont's victims of violent crime who have experienced a financial loss as a direct result of that crime; and the Victim Assistance Program, which maintains 24 advocates in the Attorney General and State's Attorneys' offices throughout Vermont’s fourteen counties to guide victims through the criminal justice process and to act as liaison with the State's Attorneys and other criminal justice agencies.

Victim/Survivor of Crime Council of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
800-834-7890

The council is a unique group of people who work on behalf of all Vermont’s crime victims – whether they have suffered personal injury, personal loss, or property loss. Its mission is to provide a bridge between people and communities who are directly affected by crime and the statewide systems, institutions and people whose work affects them. The Council provides a place for survivors to come together, educate themselves about victim assistance, share experiences, and identify ways that they may influence policy and improve services for victims of crime.

State of Vermont Office of the Attorney General
Statewide Victim Advocates
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
(802) 828-5512
www.atg.state.vt.us/issues/criminal-law/victim-services.php

Victims' Compensation Board
www.ccvs.state.vt.us

An independent board coordinated by the Center for Crime Victims Services.

State’s Attorneys’ Offices:
Addison County
211 Maple Street
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-7931

Bennington County
1 Veterans Memorial Drive, Suite 10.
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 442-8116 / (802) 447-6905

Caledonia County
1153 Main Street, Suite 4
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 748-6657 / (802) 751-0207

Chittenden County
32 Cherry St., Suite 305
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 863-2865 / (802) 652-2069

Essex County
P.O. Box 226
Orleans, VT 05860
(802) 723-3010

Franklin County
5 Lemnah Drive
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 524-7920

Grand Isle County
59 Windridge Lane
P.O. Box 204
North Hero, VT 05474
(802) 372-5422 / (802) 372-3518

Lamoille County
P.O. Box 38
Hyde Park, VT 05655
(802) 888-7945 / (802) 888-1302
http://lamoillesiu.org/victims_advocacy.html

Orange County
P.O. Box 116
Chelsea, VT 05038
(802) 685-3036 / (802) 685-2187

Orleans County
217 Main Street
Newport, VT 05855
(802) 334-2037

Rutland County
400 Asa Bloomer State Office Bldg.
Rutland, VT 05702
(802) 786-2531 / (802) 786-8897 / (802) 786-8892 

Washington County
255 N. Main Street, Suite 9
Barre, VT 05641
(802) 479-4220 / (802) 476-1698

Windham County
P.O. Box 785
Brattleboro, VT 05302
(802) 257-2860 / (802) 257-2864

Windsor County
P.O. Box 488
White River Jct., VT 05001
(802) 295-8870

U.S. Attorney’s Office
P.O. Box 570
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 951-6725
(802) 652-1140 (TTY)

The U.S. Attorney’s Victim Witness Program assists victims of federal crimes in Vermont through the criminal justice process.

Specialized Advocates

Bennington County Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Unit
150 Veterans Memorial Drive
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 442-8116

Chittenden County Domestic Violence Unit
32 Cherry Street, Suite 305
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 863-2865

Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (C.U.S.I)
50 Cherry Street, Suite 102
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 863-2865
http://www.cusi-vermont.org/

C.U.S.I is a multi-agency task force dedicated to providing criminal investigations in response to reports of sexual assaults and serious child abuse.The professionals within the unit are specially trained to deal with the unique and sensitive nature of sex crimes.

Northwest Unit for Special Investigations (N.U.S.I)
45 Kingman St.
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 524-7961 / (802) 524-7986

Specialized advocate for sexual crimes and serious cases of child abuse.

Washington County Domestic Violence Unit
255 North Main Street
Barre, VT 05641
(802) 479-4222 / (802) 479-7085

Windham County
P.O. Box 785
Brattleboro, VT 05302
(802) 257-2860 / (802) 257-2864

Chittenden County Child Advocacy Center
50 Cherry Street, Suite 102
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 652-6897
http://www.chittendencac.org/

Rutland County Women’s Network and Shelter
400 Asa Bloomer State Office Bldg.
88 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT  05702
(802) 786-2531

WIN Specialized advocate for cases of domestic and sexual violence
Alumni Hall
65 Seminary Hill
Barre, VT 05641
(802) 476-0266

Vermont Automated Notification Service
866-976-8267
www.vinelink.com

A free, confidential, computer based service provided by the Vermont Department of Corrections Victim services program that provides victims of crime and community members with two services: A toll free phone service and website providing callers with offender status and location information; and for those who register, automated telephone or e-mail notification if there is a change in an offender’s status or an upcoming parole hearing.

Vermont Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
141 Main Street, Suite 7
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 229-1355 / 800-834-7890
http://www.vtpa.org/

Vermont Protection and Advocacy is a statewide agency dedicated to advancing the rights of people with mental health and disabilities issues. Supports human and civil rights by investigating complaints of abuse and neglect (physical or sexual assault, verbal & physical abuse, restraint and seclusion, forced treatment, and harassment) and complaints of violations of individual rights (the right to refuse treatment, right to privacy, access to medical records, confidentiality, etc.).

Deaf Victims Advocacy Services (DVAS)
PO Box 61
South Barre, VT 05670
(802) 479-1934 (voice / TTY)
800-303-3827 (TTY)
http://www.dvas.org

Deaf Victims Advocacy Services (DVAS) provides advocacy for deaf victims of abuse, as well as information and referral for area agencies, including how to get an interpreter, how to buy certain equipment, or how to use TTY or relay services to talk to deaf people on the phone. In addition, DVAS offers a deaf victim advocate who will work with deaf victims statewide in legal, medical or whatever kind of advocacy needed. DVAS provides trainings to Domestic Violence agencies on how to communicate with deaf people.

Adult Protective Services of the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
103 South Main Street
Weeks Building
Waterbury, VT 05671-1601
800-564-1612

APS is a public safety program within the Division of Licensing and Protection (DLP), Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living. APS is tasked with receiving and investigating allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable elderly and disabled adults in Vermont. Investigations are conducted to determine the validity of allegations and when warranted include the coordination of protective services to address critical safety concerns. The APS Program maintains a registry of substantiated perpetrators of abuse and performs checks of that registry for employers that provide care and services to vulnerable adults. APS is also involved in community education programs to raise the public awareness of abuse issues, stimulate prevention efforts and educate personal care staff members about their mandatory reporting responsibilities.

Vermont Legal Aid, Inc.
(800)-889-2047
http://www.vtlegalaid.org/ 

A non-profit law firm organized into specialized projects serving clients from six offices located throughout Vermont. They help Vermonters who have low incomes, are elderly or who have disabilities and who have legal problems. Vermont Legal Aid also offers assistance to victims of trafficking. They do not handle criminal cases. There is no charge for services. They are funded through state and federal grants and by private donations. Vermont Legal Aid, in conjunction with Law Line, created an integrated intake system which can process requests for legal services from anywhere in the state. Vermont Legal Aid intake specialists enter information about the potential client, including family composition, financial information and a problem description into a customized case management database. Based on detailed screening guidelines, the intake specialist responds in one of several ways. They may refer the caller to a local resource, assign the case to a Vermont Legal Aid project, or refer the case electronically to Law Line where it will be assigned to an attorney or paralegal. Common examples of needs they can help with:

* Court appearances or legal advice
* Problems with housing or landlords
* Domestic violence
* Public assistance, long-term care, Medicaid, or health care issues
* Concerns or questions regarding disability, special education, or guardianship issues
* Discrimination or individual rights issues

Vermont Legal Aid facilitates several projects including a Disabilities Law Project, Senior Citizen Law Project, Housing Ombudsmen, Health Care Ombudsmen and a General Law project. Vermont Legal Aid also screens for the Legal Services Law Line of Vermont, which includes the Vermont Volunteer Lawyers Project. There are 6 offices across the state:

Burlington Office:
264 North Winooski Avenue
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 863-2871

Montpelier Office:
7 Court Street
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-6377

Rutland Office:
57 North Main Street
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 775-0021

Springfield Office:
56 Main Street, Suite 301
Springfield, VT 05156
(802) 885-5181

St. Johnsbury Office:
1111 Main Street, Suite B
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 748-8721

Waterbury Office:
Vermont State Hospital (No client intake)
(802) 241-3222 

Vermont Guardian ad Litem Program
109 State Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801
802-828-6551
http://www.vermontjudiciary.org/GTC/Family/GAL.aspx
 
The mission of the  Guardian ad Litem Program is to ensure that every child involved in a Vermont Court case has a well-trained, impartial, and supervised volunteer Guardian ad Litem in both juvenile (in cases of children in need of care and supervision and in cases of delinquency) and in domestic proceedings (in cases of divorce, parentage, relief from abuse and civil union dissolution, and in cases of vulnerable adults).

National Resources

National Center for Victims of Crime
2000 M Street NW, Suite 480
Washington, DC 20036
800-394-2255 / 800-211-7996 (TTY/TDD)
http://www.ncvc.org/ 

Provides advocacy and includes links to state laws on stalking and a Stalking Resource Center online, available through the above link.  Other programs and services include the Dating Violence Resource Center, Teen Victim Project, VictimLaw, and the Resilience Project. The NCVC also has a database linking victims with a variety of important services, including crisis intervention, information, assistance throughout the criminal justice process, counseling, support groups, and legal counsel.