Frequently Asked Questions

Statistics on homicides committed with a handgun are available in the Bureau of Justice Statistics report, Firearm Violence, 1993-2011 and in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual Crime in the United States reports. See the "Expanded Offense Data" section of each year's Crime in the United States report to view available data on weapons used in homicides, including data specific to murders committed with a handgun.

The Directory of Crime Victim Services is an Office for Victims of Crime resource that includes contact information for thousands of victim service providers. The Directory is designed to help service providers and individuals locate victim services in the United States and other countries.

Visit the Report a Crime section of the U.S. Department of Justice website to learn how you can report child pornography or cases involving the sexual exploitation of children.

You can also report suspicion of child sexual exploitation to your local police, your ICAC Task Force or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline (www.cybertipline.com or 1–800–843–5678).

The Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey Victimization Analysis Tool provides data on the number of sexual assaults that occur annually in the United States. The annual Crime in the United States report, published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, provides data on rape reported to the police.

For additional information about sexual assault, visit the Sexual Assault section of our website.

Statistics on sexual assaults in the military can be found in the U.S. Department of Defense Annual Reports on Sexual Assault in the Military and in the Annual Reports on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies. Visit the Reports section of the U.S. Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response website to access these data.

You can learn about the signs associated with child abuse and neglect by viewing the Child Welfare Information Gateway fact sheet, What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms.

If you need to report a case of suspected child abuse or neglect, each state designates specific agencies to receive and investigate reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Typically, this responsibility is carried out by Child Protective Services (CPS). For information or assistance with reporting, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800–4–A–CHILD (800–422–4453) or contact your local CPS agency.

Additional state contact information is available from the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.

Some victims of crime file a civil suit against their offender or a third party to try to recover financial losses resulting from a crime. This is different from a criminal case that the state prosecutes to determine guilt.

In addition, if your case goes to criminal trial and the defendant is found guilty, you may want to make an inquiry with your attorney about requesting restitution during sentencing.

If you are the victim of a crime and are interested in receiving a referral for a civil attorney, you may request assistance through the National Crime Victim Bar Association by completing an online questionnaire.

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Visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website for data on nonfamily abductions.

The Tribal Resource Tool, a website funded by OVC, provides a searchable map of programs throughout the United States that offer services to American Indian/Alaskan Native crime victims. The Tribal Resource Tool includes services for—

• all ages of American Indian/Alaskan Native survivors and victims;
• all forms of victimization;
• all locations (on or off reservations, in areas that are remote, rural, urban, or suburban); and
• all needs of victims, including justice, safety, healing, and support.