Rochester Police Department Victim Assistance Unit

Victim Assistance Unit

If you are the victim of a crime, the Rochester Police Department Victim Assistance Unit is here to help you. The office is located on the 2nd floor of the Rochester Public Safety Building, 185 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, NY. Hours are:Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, telephone (585) 428-6630. 

You have the right to be protected against intimidation and harm. If you are threatened, immediately call 911.

Important Numbers

Our Services

The Victim Assistance Unit does not distribute cash, reimburse for stolen property or advocate for defendants.

The Unit does provide:

•  Crisis support services after a crime 

• Home or hospital visits 

•   Explanation of the criminal justice system 

•   Referrals to other agencies 

•   Transportation to and from court for victims and witnesses who have exhausted all other means of transportation 

•   Assistance in filing NYS Crime Victims Compensation

Victims of a crime, survivors of a homicide victim or children who witnessed a crime may be entitled to compensation benefits through the NYS Crime Victims Board. These benefits cover:

• Out of pocket medical expenses
• Lost wages 
• Funeral expenses 
• Essential personal property 
• Counseling services
• Transportation costs to court 
• Loss of support benefits 
• Rehabilitation services

 If you are the victim of a family (domestic) offense, you have the right to:

• Bring charges in both Criminal and Family courts
• Request an Order of Protection (OOP), which can require the offender to stop threatening or harming you, or stay away from you entirely 
• An Order of Protection can be issued in both Criminal Court and Family Court 
• A Criminal Court may issue an OOP to any victim and/or witness listed on the crime report once an arrest is made and the offender is arraigned before a Criminal Court judge. 
• You may be eligible in Family Court if you are (or have been) married to the offender, are blood relatives, have a child in common, or are currently or formerly intimate partners.
  
  

For more information on services for victims of domestic violence, visit the Rochester Police Department Domestic Violence page.

There are two types of Orders of Protection:

• No Contact OOP is one in which the offender is to have no contact whatsoever with the victim.
• No Offensive Contact OOP simply means that the offender can have contact with the victim, but cannot physically harm or threaten to harm the victim.
  
  

Warrants

To obtain a warrant for a person’s arrest you will need to bring your crime report to the 2nd floor of the Rochester Public Safety Building, 185 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, where you will see a police paralegal.

District Attorney

The Assistant District Attorney is the prosecuting attorney who will represent the interests of the state as well as victims’ concerns throughout the criminal case.
Pre-Trial Release: A defendant is interviewed before and after arraignment to determine eligibility of non-financial release and to assess the defendants’ likelihood to return to court.

Types of Offenses 

Violations and Misdemeanors are the least serious offenses. Felonies are the most serious. Both misdemeanors and felonies are crimes and punishable according to State Penal Law.