Victim Services Division

Angie McCown, Director, Victim Services Division
Angie McCown
Director

The mission of the Victim Services Division is to provide a central mechanism for crime victims to participate in the Criminal Justice System.

Contact:

Mailing Address:

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Victim Services Division
PO Box 13401 Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-3401
Phone: (800) 848-4284
Fax: (512) 452-0825
E-mail: victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov

Our promise to victims and their families

The TDCJ Victim Services Division is dedicated to providing direct, personal service to victims and their families throughout Texas, as well as, assisting those outside our state to the best of our ability. It is our goal to assure victims that they are not left behind at the crime scene, but can be involved in all parts of the criminal justice system if desired.

How to contact the Victim Services Division

1-800-848-4284
(512) 406-5900
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time)
E-mail: victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov

If you are trying to contact us after business hours, please leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Prosecutors' offices click here for information on the new Subsequent Indictment on Article 42A.054(a) Offense and/or Finding of a Deadly Weapon Notification form and instructions.

Upcoming Events/New Services

To support the continued educational needs of victim services professionals, the Integrated Victim Services System (IVSS) provides information on training/events held in Texas. For more information, click here.

The TDCJ Victim Services Division is pleased to launch a new Informational Video Library. The library serves as a resource for victim services and criminal justice professionals who wish to receive training and information on specific subjects related to serving victims of crime.

Summary of Services We Provide

Our division is organized into three sections, Notification, Programs, and Employee Support Services. A summary of these sections is provided below.

Notification

Notification Registration

Written Notification

The Integrated Victim Services System (IVSS) utilizes a confidential database to provide registrants with notifications regarding offenders in the TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division (CID) or under the supervision of the TDCJ Parole Division (PD). Notifications are now available via e-mail, letter, text or any combination of your choosing. The IVSS provides notifications concerning phases of the criminal justice system, post-conviction. This includes the parole review process, release to supervision or discharge and warrant actions during periods of supervision.

If you are a victim of a crime, family member of a victim, concerned citizen, or criminal justice professional and would like to register for notification on an offender who is in the TDCJ CID or under the supervision of the TDCJ PD, please visit our IVSS website or you may contact our office at (800) 848-4284 or by e-mail at victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov.

Text Notification

The TDCJ Victim Services Division now offers text notifications to all registrants on a variety of notifications. Please note that data is process through the IVSS system 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is possible to receive notifications by e-mail and text message at all hours of the day. You may request to receive only time sensitive (parolee warrant actions) by text message or opt in to receiving text messages for all available notifications by logging into the portal or contacting the VSD at 1-800-848-4284.

Programs

Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC)

The Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) provides training and technical assistance to criminal justice and victim services professionals and direct services to crime victims. The goal of the TxCVC is to provide focus, leadership, and coordination necessary to continue and improve services so that victims are afforded a full measure of justice and all possible assistance. The TxCVC was established and operated by the Governor’s Office in 1983 until its official transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division (VSD) in March of 1996.

TxCVC Services:

Victim Impact Statement (VIS) Form
Training and Technical Assistance
Direct Services for Crime Victims
Publications/Resources

Regional Victim Services Coordinators

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division (VSD) has strategically placed Regional Victim Services Coordinators (RVSCs). The RVSCs provide direct services to victims of violent crime, assist local victim service and criminal justice professionals at district and county attorney offices, law enforcement agencies, and community-based organizations, and are also available to serve on regional victim service coalitions or task force groups.

Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue (VOMD)

The TDCJ Victim Services Division Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue (VOMD) program, in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure art. 56A.602, provides an opportunity for victims or surviving family members of violent crime to initiate an in-person meeting with the TDCJ offender responsible for their victimization. Creative alternatives to mediation are also an option, and typically include a letter written by the victim. For more information, please visit the VOMD page.

Offender Apology Bank

The Victim Services Division processes received unsolicited letters from offenders incarcerated in TDCJ - Correctional Institutions Division (adult prison system) expressing apologies to the victims of their crimes. To reduce the likelihood of possible re-victimization, the VSD processes appropriate apology letters according to the established division procedures.

Upon receipt of an apology letter from an offender, the VSD staff screen the letter and first determine whether applicable contact rules, laws, or court orders prohibit the offender from contacting the victim. If so, the VSD may report an offender for the possible violation and the apology letter process shall end. If an apology letter is screened and approved for further processing, the VSD will attempt to contact the victim to inform them of the letter, and offer them the choice of receiving the letter.

The offender is not notified as to whether or not the victim was successfully contacted or the victim’s decision regarding the letter. In the event that the VSD is unable to contact a victim about an appropriate apology letter, the letter is stored and shall be available at the request of the victim.

Employee Support Services (ESS)

While stress and trauma are an inherent part of the job, TDCJ staff are not alone in navigating their experiences. The Employee Support Services (ESS) section of the Victim Services Division coordinates responses to support all TDCJ staff. ESS CRISP Coordinators collaborate with CRISP peer teams and staff impact teams to provide services to employees to include peer support, information and referrals, critical incident support and debriefing, training and follow up. ESS also partners with Regional Victim Services Coordinators to assist staff who become victims of crime while on the job.

Staff may contact the Regional CRISP Coordinator in their area directly or through the general e-mail or hotline number below. Calls are returned within 24 hours Monday through Friday. ESS e-mail: vsd.employee_support_services@tdcj.texas.gov or at 800-848-4284. Please note: the 800 number is answered Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. To know who your regional CRISP Coordinator or Victim Advocate is, please go to the Employee Support Services page.

Victim Resources

Texas Victim Resource Directory