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VICTIM SERVICES

The Rye Police Department and the State of New Hampshire are committed to assisting victims. You are not alone! Reach your local crisis center 24 hours a day for confidential support and information. The information below is from the NH Victim Services Directory provided by Justiceworks.

 

Victim's Bill of Rights

Victims of felonious crimes committed by an adult offender are entitled to the
following rights under NH RSA 21-M:8-K

The Right...

  • to be treated with fairness and respect for your dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice process
  • to be informed about the criminal justice process and how it progresses
  • to be free from intimidation and to be reasonably protected from the accused throughout the criminal justice process
  • to be notified of all court proceedings
  • to attend trial and all other court proceedings the accused has the right to attend
  • to confer with the prosecution and to be consulted about the disposition of the case, including plea bargaining
  • to have inconveniences associated with participation in the criminal justice process minimized
  • to be notified if presence in court is not required
  • to be informed about available resources, financial assistance, and social services
  • to restitution, as granted under RSA 651:62-67 or any other applicable state law, or victim's compensation, under RSA 21-M:8-h or any other applicable state law, for your losses
  • to be provided a secure, but not necessarily separate, waiting area during court proceedings
  • to be advised of case progress and final disposition
  • of confidentiality of the victim's address, place of employment, and other personal information
  • to the prompt return of property when no longer needed as evidence
  • to have input in the probation pre-sentence report impact statement
  • to appear and make a written or oral victim impact statement at the sentencing of the defendant
  • to be notified of an appeal, an explanation of the appeal process, the time, place and result of the appeal, and the right to attend the appeal hearing
  • to be notified and to attend sentence review hearings and sentence reduction hearings
  • to be notified of any change of status such as prison release, permanent interstate transfer, or escape, and the date of the parole board hearing, when requested by the victim through the victim advocate
  • to address or submit a written statement for consideration by the parole board on the defendant's release and to be notified of the decision of the board, when requested by the victim through the victim advocate

 

Local Assistance Agencies

A Safe Place
1-800-852-3388 (crisis line)
436-7924 (Portsmouth office)

A Safe Place was founded in 1976 to prevent and eliminate domestic violence. They are a non-profit organization that provides free shelter and support services for those who need them.

Seacoast Child Advocacy Center
100 Campus Drive, Suite 11
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 422-8240

The Seacoast Child Advocacy center provides support to child victims of abuse and/or neglect and offers information and referral, and advocacy.

Sexual Assault Support Services
7 Junkins Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-436-4107
24 hour crisis line:
1-888-747-7070

This agency provides: a confidential 24-hour sexual assault crisis hotline; 24-hour advocacy and support at police stations, hospital emergency rooms, and the courts; support groups for rape survivors, sexual abuse survivors, parents, and others affected by sexual violence; professional training and consultation to police departments, hospitals, schools, and others in the community.

Victim’s Inc.
The Castles
Route 27
Brentwood, NH 03833
603-679-9800

Victim’s Inc. provides support to families of trauma and offers crisis intervention, grief support groups, and advocacy.

Rockingham County Victim/Witness Advocate Services
603-642-4249
8:30am - 4:30pm

Please note, these services are limited to victims that are involved with the county attorney's office, police department or district court in the investigation and/or prosecution of a crime.

 

Statewide Assistance Agencies

New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is an umbrella organization for independent member programs, located throughout the state, that provide services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The services are free, confidential, and available to all victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, or financial status. You need not be in crisis to call.
Contact: PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302; 603-224-8893

New Hampshire Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
Persons attempting to escape from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking situations frequently establish new addresses in order to prevent their assailants from finding them. The ACP will allow victims who move to a new location the opportunity to keep that address confidential. The purpose of the New Hampshire Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is to enable state and local agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing the location of a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. The ACP also enables interagency cooperation with the Attorney General in providing address confidentiality for domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault victims. Lastly, the ACP enables state and local agencies to accept program participants use of an address designated by the Attorney General as a substitute address. Contact: 1-800-300-4500

American Red Cross
Helps people cope with disasters by responding immediately with caring relief and compassionate assistance, and helps families live safer and more secure lives through a broad range of programs and activities in communities throughout the nation. They pursue these aims through five major services that, altogether, fulfill our time honored humanitarian mission.
Contact: 167 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301; 603-225-6697 or 1-800-464-6692

New Hampshire Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau
The Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau protects consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices in New Hampshire. When businesses misrepresent, do not provide, or provide poor quality services or products to people, the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau will question the business’s practices, and can, if necessary, take the business to court and ask a judge to make a decision. The staff of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau take phone calls from 8AM to 5PM each day. While this Bureau cannot offer legal advice, they can often offer suggestions to help resolve complaints between consumers and businesses, and they have list of referral offices that are helpful with specific types of complaints.

New Hampshire Department of Corrections
The Department of Corrections offers a full array of Victim Services which include:

NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
DHHS is an agency that helps people. They do this in partnership with families, community groups, private providers, other government agencies and many thousands of foster parents, neighbors, and citizens who made New Hampshire a special place to be. Programs and services are housed in a single department because the majority of the people who use their programs and services have multiple needs and require assistance from more than one program. The NH Legislature and the Governor created a central umbrella agency in 1995 to make these programs and services easier for citizens to find and use, and to reduce administration costs.

Division of Children, Youth & Families,
Bureau of Child Protection
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Main office: 603-271-4440
Child Abuse Report Line: 1-800-894-5533		 Department of Elderly & Adult Services
Adult Protection Program
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Main Office: 603-271-4680

 

Sexual Assault Hotline
Child Abuse Report Hotline
Child & Family Services
Court Appointed Special Advocates
Legal Advice & Referral
US Attorney's Office Victim/Witness Program
Lawyer Referral Service of the NH Bar Association

800-277-5570
800-894-5533
603-444-0418
603-626-4600
800-639-5290
603-225-1552
603-224-6942

 

Helpful Resources

Info Link
1-888-499-2525
Free confidential service that offers information and referrals concerning housing, healthcare, education, abuse, consumer complaints, and family problems over the phone. During off-hours an answering service takes messages and calls are returned the following day.
*Info link does not provide direct service.

NH Helpline
24 hour hotline: 1-800-852-3388
A state-wide resource line for information and referrals on all abusive situations and community resources.

Parents Anonymous
24 hour hotline: 1-800-750-4494
The oldest national child abuse prevention organization, dedicated to strengthening families
through support groups and crisis lines. They do this by promoting mutual support, parent
leadership, and working to transform attitudes and behaviors to create long term positive changes.

ChildHelp USA
24 hour hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD
Provides crisis intervention, information, and referral to agencies and services which range from adult survivor treatment to domestic violence shelters.

Suicide Hotline
24 hour hotline: 1-800-852-3323; NH only
This 800 number is for any crisis call, yet only offers counseling to residents in Merrimack
County. All calls will be referred to the counseling services in the corresponding county.

Runaway Hotline
24 hour hotline: 1-800-621-4000
Available to runaways in crisis. Provides support and referrals.