RICHMOND, VIRGINIA-- The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and the Virginia Department of Corrections have entered into an agreement to provide specialized crisis and advocacy services to incarcerated individuals who are victims of sexual abuse or assault.
The collaborative project is a result of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Through the toll-free Virginia Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline, the Action Alliance will provide crisis support and services to people who are sexually assaulted while incarcerated. The Hotline will act as a resource for incarcerated victims to report sexual abuse or assault, and will connect victims to emergency accompaniment services from trained victim advocates.
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The Police Department is changing its policy on sexual assault investigations in response to a case in which detectives did not believe a victim and - for a time - closed her file while an attacker was on the loose.
Chief Mike Goldsmith sent a memo to the City Council, City Manager Marcus Jones and other officials Thursday, outlining changes he said would improve the way his department deals with sexual assault victims, including allowing rape crisis advocates in interviews and making sure victims are checked by medical staff.
Also, detectives in the Special Crimes Division will undergo training about post-traumatic stress disorder and rape trauma syndrome and an online program from End Violence Against Women International.
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School systems across Virginia are getting threat assessment training as part of a mandate passed by this year's General Assembly. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services has tapped UVA Education professor Dewey Cornell to train these assessment teams, and Charles Fishburne talked with him about how to make schools safer in Virginia.
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia regulators say a Craig County school nurse is facing a disciplinary hearing after they say she failed to report the rape of a student.
The Virginia Board of Nursing has set a hearing in late August for Trena Boudreaux.
According to the notice from the board, the registered nurse did not report the incident to school officials, county officials or the student's parents.
No details about the date, place or other circumstances of the rape are included in the notice.
County school superintendent Kelly Wilmore tells The Roanoke Times (http://bit.ly/19iUHmR) that Boudreaux is no longer employed by the school system.
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[RICHMOND, VIRGINIA]--New ”Peace Begins at Home” special license plates that were recently approved by the Virginia General Assembly will help pay for violence prevention programs aimed at stopping sexual and domestic violence before it starts.
Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudoun & Fairfax) and Delegate John O’Bannon III, M.D. (R-Richmond) sponsored legislation during the 2013 Virginia General Assembly to authorize the “Peace Begins at Home” special-interest license plate to support prevention projects among Virginia’s sexual and domestic violence agencies.
Senator Herring was on scene at the Richmond (Broad Street) Department of Motor Vehicles today to deliver 500 pre-paid orders for the Virginia DMV to begin production of the new “Peace Begins at Home” license plates.
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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA-- Virginians who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, biseuxal, transgender, queer or questioning) now have access to a toll-free helpline designed specifically to address the needs of members of the LGBTQ community.
The LGBTQ Partner Abuse and Sexual Assault Helpline launched this month to provide support, information, and referrals to survivors, friends, family, and professionals wanting to know more about how to help members of the LGBTQ community who have been affected by sexual assault or partner abuse. The Helpline operates Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, and can be reached by calling 1-866-356-6998.
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A new online resource is available for Virginia professionals who deal with sexual and domestic violence.
The attorney general's office announced the establishment of the Community Solutions to Sexual and Domestic Violence website Wednesday. It's a clearinghouse that includes training materials, evaluation tools, conference announcements, brochures, model policies and other resources.
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RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia ranks 11th in the nation when it comes to the well-being of its children. However, the Annie E. Casey Foundation 2013 KIDS COUNT® Data Book released today also reveals that fallout from the recession continues to take a toll on children in the state.
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A Portsmouth organization that aids victims of domestic violence is trying to raise awareness and money by selling special license plates that read: "Peace Begins at Home."
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