MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Each year, thousands of Alabamians are victims of violence, and in their despair, they wonder where to turn. Their spouse may have been murdered, a loved one may have been sexually assaulted, or their child may have endured abuse. Possibly, they’ve survived a random shooting or escaped domestic violence. Victims desperately need assistance but often don’t know who to call. That changes today.
VOCAL – Victims of Crime and Leniency, a nonprofit organization that has served crime victims across Alabama since 1982 – has announced the official launch of the Alabama Victim Assistance Portal (AVAP), a centralized statewide resource that connects crime victims, law enforcement, and the public with trusted services.
Available through a new mobile app, as well as a dedicated website, the AVAP portal is easy-to-use and designed to quickly point those in need to specific assistance anytime and anywhere. Users can search for nearby services by county or filter by the type of victim service or agency, including domestic violence shelters, rape crisis hotlines, child advocacy centers, homicide support programs, anti-human trafficking services, financial assistance – or they can reach out to their local police or prosecutor.
“For more than 43 years, VOCAL has stood beside crime victims across Alabama,” said Wanda Miller, Executive Director. “With the launch of AVAP, we are using technology to expand access to vital services and ensure that victims — especially those in rural communities — can find the support they need quickly and safely. We also anticipate that AVAP will potentially be helpful to law enforcement at crime scenes, or as detectives work with survivors – especially since Alabama law requires police to provide certain information to victims within 72 hours of a crime being reported.” [Code of Alabama § 15-23-62]
A unique and impactful aspect of the AVAP project is the collaboration with students from the University of Alabama MIS Capstone Program, who played an integral role in bringing AVAP to life. This team of five students embraced the goal of supporting crime victims and worked diligently for four months to develop technology that is both functional and meaningful.
That link is: https://avap.me/app/home.html
