Support and Advocacy

Reducing the Trauma of Crime

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Counseling and Therapy | Accompaniment and Advocacy | Support Groups | Volunteering 

St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services’ mission involves reducing the trauma of crime and supporting victims. Our team of professional staff and volunteers provide victims and survivors with advocacy, legal and medical accompaniment, and support.

The Support and Advocacy Program provides voluntary and confidential services at no cost. These offerings include counseling, therapy, medical/legal advocacy and accompaniment, and assistance filing Office of Victim Services compensation claims.

All information shared by clients to their advocate, counselor or therapist is confidential, except in legally mandated circumstances where the client has disclosed intent to harm self, others, or has disclosed child abuse reportable under NYS law. 

Counseling and Therapy

Accompaniment and Advocacy

St. Peter's Crime Victim Services offers legal and medical accompaniment and advocacy for crime victims/survivors.

Legal Advocacy and Accompaniment: We provide information and support regarding the legal system. This includes criminal, police, civil, and family court. We offer accompaniment to police and court procedures. Upon request, program staff will meet clients at law enforcement locations and Courthouses throughout the Capital Region. The program also has two established satellite offices at:

• Rensselaer County Courthouse
• Troy Police Department

Medical Advocacy and Accompaniment: Our counselors provide victims/survivors with emotional support and assistance in exploring treatment options at hospitals, clinics, and private physicians' offices. Victims/survivors can contact our 24/hour hotline (518-271-3257) for accompaniment to St. Peter’s Hospital, Samaritan Hospital, and Albany Memorial Campus emergency departments. 

Support Groups

St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services hosts a variety of support groups. These groups offer a safe space for individuals to connect with others going through similar experiences. Due to COVID-19, we are offering virtual support groups.

Benefits of Peer Support:

• Reduce isolation
• Share experiences with others
• Gain support and hope
• Learn new coping skills
• Self-confidence
• Learn how to regain control
• Reduce stress and anxiety 

All of our support groups are offered at no cost. Participants must complete an intake prior to participation. 

Volunteering

Our volunteers help victims regain control of their lives by providing emotional support, information and referrals, active listening, and crisis intervention, and medical and legal accompaniments.

“...being the extra shoulder someone needs to cry on, or an extra ear they need to listen is such an AMAZING and REWARDING feeling” - Madeline, Volunteer

St. Peter's Crime Victim Services Support and Advocacy Program relies on volunteers to provide services on our 24-hour crisis hotline. All volunteers receive the necessary training to support survivors of crime and sexual assault. Upon completion of the training, volunteers become NYS Department of Health Certified Sexual Assault Counselors and take shifts on the 24-hour crisis hotline.

Volunteers must be age 18 or older, able to complete the provided 40-hour training, cover three 12-hour hotline shifts per month, and complete 10 hours of continuing training annually.  Please call the Supervisor of Crisis Services at 518-271-3638 with any questions. 

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