A Confidential Victim Advocate is available to assist with filing police reports, protection orders, and to accompany the victim/survivor in criminal and civil proceedings at no charge.
You Do Not Have to Navigate the Legal System Alone
After experiencing sexual violence, many survivors are left facing emotional trauma while also trying to understand complicated legal, medical, educational, or reporting systems. The process can feel overwhelming, confusing, and isolating.
Our Legal Advocacy Program is here to provide compassionate, trauma-informed support to survivors across the United States. We are committed to helping survivors understand their rights, explore their options, and access support services in a way that prioritizes safety, empowerment, and choice.
Every survivor’s healing journey is different. Some survivors may choose to report the assault, pursue protective orders, seek accommodations, or participate in criminal or civil proceedings. Others may simply want information, emotional support, or help understanding their options. Whatever path you choose, you deserve to be supported without pressure or judgment.
“You’re not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage.”
-Alex Elle
What Is Legal Advocacy?
Legal advocacy helps survivors navigate systems that may become involved after sexual violence, including law enforcement, courts, schools, workplaces, medical systems, and victim services.
Our advocates provide emotional support, education, referrals, and guidance throughout these processes while helping survivors feel informed and empowered.
While advocates are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice or representation, they can help survivors:
- understand available options
- learn about survivor rights
- prepare for legal or institutional processes
- connect with community resources
- access referrals to legal professionals and support services
- receive ongoing emotional support throughout the process
Our Legal Advocacy Services
Emotional Support & Crisis Advocacy
Survivors often experience fear, anxiety, confusion, or uncertainty after sexual violence. Our advocates provide trauma-informed emotional support designed to help survivors feel heard, validated, and supported.
Support may include:
- Crisis intervention
- Emotional support services
- Safety planning
- Coping support during investigations or legal processes
- Advocacy during difficult or triggering situations
Information About Rights & Options
Many survivors are unaware of the rights and protections available to them. Our advocates help provide information so survivors can make informed decisions about what feels right for them.
This may include information about:
- Reporting options
- Survivor rights
- Protection orders
- Victim compensation resources
- Criminal justice processes
- Civil legal options
- Confidentiality and privacy protections
Seeking information does not obligate a survivor to take legal action.
Law Enforcement Advocacy
For survivors who choose to engage with law enforcement, advocates can help provide support throughout the reporting process.
Services may include:
- Explaining reporting procedures
- Emotional support before or after making a report
- Assistance preparing for interviews
- Accompaniment during meetings when available
- Help understanding investigative processes
Reporting is always the survivor’s choice.
Court Advocacy
Court systems can feel intimidating and emotionally exhausting for survivors. Our advocates help survivors better understand the process and access support throughout court proceedings.
Support may include:
- Court accompaniment when available
- Emotional support during hearings
- Assistance understanding court procedures and terminology
- Coordination with prosecutors or victim services when appropriate
- Referrals to legal aid or attorneys
Campus & Title IX Advocacy
Students who experience sexual violence may face academic, housing, or safety concerns in educational settings. Our advocates can help survivors understand rights and support options related to schools and educational institutions.
Support may include:
- Information about Title IX rights
- Assistance requesting accommodations
- Advocacy related to academic or housing concerns
- Support navigating campus reporting processes
- Emotional support during meetings or hearings
Workplace & Institutional Advocacy
Sexual harassment and violence can also impact survivors in workplace or institutional settings. Advocates may help survivors access information, resources, and referrals related to workplace concerns, accommodations, or reporting options.
Referrals & Community Resources
Healing often requires access to multiple forms of support. We help connect survivors with trusted community resources and services nationwide.
Referrals may include:
- Trauma therapy and counseling
- Emergency shelter and housing support
- Medical services
- Legal aid organizations
- Financial assistance resources
- Disability support services
- Culturally specific support programs
- LGBTQ+ affirming resources
- Immigration-related support services
Survivor-Centered & Trauma-Informed Support
Our advocacy approach is rooted in empowerment, compassion, and respect for survivor autonomy.
We recognize that trauma affects every individual differently, and survivors deserve support that honors their experiences, identities, and choices.
This means:
- Survivors control their own decisions
- Services are offered without pressure or judgment
- Survivors are treated with dignity and respect
- Support is tailored to individual needs and goals
- Healing is not expected to follow a timeline
We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all survivors.
Support for All Survivors
We support survivors of all:
- genders
- sexual orientations
- identities
- races and ethnicities
- cultures and religions
- ages
- abilities and disabilities
- backgrounds and experiences
Sexual violence impacts people from every community, and every survivor deserves access to compassionate support and advocacy.
We also recognize that many survivors face additional barriers when seeking help, including discrimination, language barriers, financial hardship, fear of systems involvement, disability access challenges, or lack of community support. Our goal is to help reduce those barriers and increase access to survivor-centered care.
You Have Choices
There is no “right” way to respond to trauma.
Some survivors report immediately. Others wait months or years. Some choose not to report at all. Some pursue legal action, while others focus entirely on healing and recovery.
All responses to trauma are valid.
Accessing advocacy services does not require a survivor to:
- report to law enforcement
- participate in an investigation
- go to court
- confront the offender
- share details before they are ready
Our role is to provide information, support, and resources so survivors can make decisions that feel safest and most empowering for them.
Confidential Support Is Available
Whether the violence happened recently or years ago, support is available.
Our advocates are here to listen, support, educate, and help survivors navigate difficult systems with compassion and care.
You do not have to go through this alone.
