Creating no wrong doors to justice and recovery for crime survivors in Washington, DC.

WHAT IS VLNDC?

We envision a future where crime survivors can receive legal services for all their legal needs.

VLNDC is a network of legal service providers in DC that provide legal assistance to survivors of crime in DC. With a network of over 25 different legal service organizations, VLNDC provides survivors support with a wide variety of issues including (but not limited to) family law, immigration, debt collection, housing, protection orders, and crime victims’ rights. When a survivor contacts VLNDC, we strive to connect them to any member organizations that may be able to assist them with their pending legal needs. If we’re unable to assist, we provide the survivor with other resources to explore.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for survivors of crime

FAQs For Survivors of Crime

  • VLNDC Navigators provide legal advice on protection orders and crime victims’ rights, offer information on various legal issues in Washington, DC, and connect crime survivors with legal services from VLNDC member organizations, which may include advice, brief service, or representation.

  • Legal advice from VLNDC’s Attorney Navigators is always free. If referred to a VLNDC member organization, they will inform you of any potential fees for their services. Most are nonprofits and offer free services, though some may charge low fees.

  • If you are not sure if what you experienced is a crime, you can call VLNDC and explain your situation. VLNDC also helps family members of homicide victims, and parents or guardians of survivors of crime. VLNDC does not require a police report to support you.

  • Any information you submit to VLNDC via our “Get Help” form or over the phone is confidential. That means that we won't share any part of our conversation with anyone else unless we have your permission, or we are required to by a court order. 


    If you sign a consent form, that allows the VLNDC Navigator to share your information with VLNDC member organizations and/or other organizations you choose. When we refer your case to a VLNDC member organization, they will only see your name, date of birth, and address, and the name, dates of birth, and addresses for other parties in your case until they complete a conflict check. Once the organization confirms that they do not have a known conflict of interest, they will then be able to see further details about your case.

  • VLNDC can only assist with legal issues where the decision maker (judge, agency, etc.) is located in Washington, DC, or where you have an immigration need and live in DC.  

  • VLNDC Navigators can make referrals to VLNDC member organizations for cases involving anti-stalking orders, civil protection orders, consumer protection, crime victims’ rights, custody, divorce, education, employment, housing, identification documents, immigration, probate/estate planning, public benefits, tax, and more.

  • VLNDC’s member organizations do not typically handle criminal defense, personal injury cases, civil lawsuits for pain and suffering, medical or legal malpractice, real estate cases, or cases involving employment-based visas.

  • You may contact VLNDC staff by emailing info@vlndc.org and we will be in touch with you shortly.

vlndc benefits for member organizations

Any legal service organization that provides free or low cost representation in DC can apply to become a member.

local partnerships

Through participating in the network, member organizations have opportunities to connect with other legal service providers and learn about their services.

increased service access for clients

VLNDC streamlines access to relevant legal services by reducing client effort and minimizing referrals to organizations unable to help. Member organizations save intake time through detailed case summaries and can rely on VLNDC to coordinate further referrals when needed.

responsive trainings & technical assistance

As members of VLNDC, member organizations have access to trainings by VLNDC Navigators on intake skills, and to trainings by other network member organizations on a variety of legal topics. Staff at VLNDC member organizations can also contact VLNDC Navigators for technical assistance regarding legal resources available for unique or difficult referrals.

access to vlndc’s legal map

VLNDC Attorney Navigators have created and make daily updates to a “map” of VLNDC member organizations’ service areas, eligibility criteria, capacity updates, and points of contact. Staff at VLNDC member organizations can access the map online as a benefit of VLNDC membership.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for legal service providers

FAQs About VLNDC Membership

  • There are no costs associated with being a member of the network.

  • Any legal service organization that provides free or low cost representation in DC can apply to become a member by contacting info@vlndc.org.

    The organization does not need to identify as an organization that serves victims of crime.

  • No. The network does not guarantee that a client will receive services, but we do request that members diligently and thoroughly consider all network referrals for legal advice or representation. We understand that not every case is ripe for legal representation and must be evaluated on an individual basis.

  • If you are unable to accept a case and this is communicated to the Navigator, the Navigator will review the intake and determine if another member can assist the survivor. If there is no other suitable referral, the Navigator shall provide the survivor with out-of-network services that they may contact on their own.

  • VLNDC was founded through Grant No. 2014-XV-BX-K010, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The project is currently funded through grants from the District of Columbia Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) and the DC Bar Foundation. 

  • You may contact VLNDC staff by emailing info@vlndc.org and we will be in touch with you shortly.

MEMBER organizations

Directory of Network Member Organizations

If you are a legal services provider interested in joining the network, let us know!

  • Advocates for Justice and Education

  • Amara Legal Center

  • American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia

  • Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center

  • Ayuda

  • Bread for the City

  • Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)

  • Children’s Law Center

  • Christian Legal Aid of DC

  • Community Family Life Services

  • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center

  • DC Affordable Law Firm

  • DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

  • First Shift Justice Project

  • Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance

  • Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia

  • Legal Counsel for the Elderly 

  • Mother’s Outreach Network

  • Neighborhood Legal Services Program

  • Rising for Justice (formerly DC Law Students in Court)

  • Tahirih Justice Center

  • The Safe Sisters Circle

  • Tzedek DC

  • Volare (formerly Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC))

  • Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

  • Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

  • Whitman-Walker Health

for survivors of crime

Get Help

If you have been harmed by a crime and have a related Washington, DC legal issue that you would like to consult with an attorney about, VLNDC can help.

Please complete the questions below and a VLNDC Navigator will contact you. After you speak with the Navigator, they will identify possible resources for your legal issue and, if appropriate, will try to connect you to a legal office in our network. 

Speaking with a Navigator does not guarantee that you will receive legal advice or representation, or that your case will be referred to VLNDC network member.

The information requested below will remain private and will only be used for receiving VLNDC services. 

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Si ha sido víctima de un delito y tiene un problema legal relacionado con Washington, DC sobre el que le gustaría consultar con un abogado, VLNDC puede ayudarle.

Complete las preguntas a continuación y un asesor de VLNDC se comunicará con usted. Después de hablar con el asesor, identificarán posibles recursos para su problema legal y, si corresponde, intentarán conectarle con una oficina legal en nuestra red.

Hablar con un asesor no garantiza que recibirá asesoramiento o representación legal, o que su caso se remitirá a un miembro de la red VLNDC.

La información solicitada a continuación permanecerá privada y solo se utilizará para recibir los servicios de VLNDC.