Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
Register for NotificationOVSRS is currently experiencing technical issues with the telephone lines. If you wish to contact OVSRS via phone please call 1-877-256-6877 and choose option 3 to leave a voicemail. An OVSRS staff member will return your call as quickly as possible.
Our office can also be reached via email at:
Victim Services Unit – victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov
Restitution Services Unit – CDCRRestitution@cdcr.ca.gov
We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to have the issue resolved soon.
OVSRS está experimentando problemas técnicos con las líneas telefónicas. Si desea comunicarse con OVSRS por teléfono, llame al 1-877-256-6877 y seleccione la opción 3 para dejar un mensaje de voz. Un miembro del nuestro equipo de OVSRS le devolverá la llamada lo mas antes posible.
También puede comunicarse con nuestra oficina por correo electrónico:
¿Necesita ayuda en español? CDCROVSRSSpanish@cdcr.ca.gov
Lamentamos cualquier inconveniente y esperamos que el problema se resuelva pronto.
PHONE: 1-877-256-6877 | EMAIL: victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov | MAILING: P.O. Box 942883, Sacramento, CA 94283 | Contact OVSRS
Explore Resources by Topic
Victims and their families
Comprehensive services from notification to parole hearing support
Restorative Justice opportunities
Unique programs developed for every healing journey
Restitution Responsibilities
For incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals
Resources for service providers
Information sharing for those working with crime victims
MEDIA
Restitution in Action
How restitution is obtained and ways OVSRS assists in financial recovery
Restorative Justice:
The Accountability Letter Bank Program
Accountability letters are an important part of the rehabilitative process and can serve a vital role in the healing journey for victims.
Community Spotlight
The Mend Collaborative
Community Spotlight
Yolo Conflict Resolution Center
What’s New?
- January 2025 – OVSRS implemented changes to comply with the provisions of Assembly Bill 1186 which made court ordered restitution fines uncollectible after 10 years. More Information
- June 2024 – OVSRS launched a new Victim Outreach Tracking System. The new system allows OVSRS to track and coordinate advanced outreach efforts for victims eligible to participate in the parole hearing process. The advanced outreach offers victims the opportunity to work with OVSRS staff much earlier in the hearing preparation to answer questions, register for services and request support during the hearing. If you have received a notice of an upcoming parole hearing you can register to participate online via the Parole Hearing Reservation System.
- March 2024 – The Board of Parole Hearings has released a comprehensive “CA Parole Hearing Process Handbook” | View Handbook
- February 2024 – CDCR has implemented regulations for the Condemned Inmate Transfer Program (CITP). The program allows death-sentenced individuals to serve their sentences in designated prisons that provide the necessary level of security and enable them to have more access to job opportunities, participate in rehabilitative programming and work opportunities commensurate with their case factors, and pay victim restitution in compliance with Proposition 66 passed by California voters in November 2016.
- If you are a victim, or family member of a victim, you can register for notification here
- View approved regulations
- Read More about Capital Punishment and CITP
- September 2023 – OVSRS partners with the California Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) system to utilize a language translation line to assist victims with telephone interpretation services. Over 200 languages are available via live operator support.
- May 2023 – CDCR and Parole Justice Works have partnered to provide education and resources to victims/survivors and their family members who are interested in participating in the California parole hearing process | Visit Website
- April 2023 – The California Victim Advisory Council created a resource flyer listing all state agencies that provide services and assistance to crime victims. The resource flyer is available in twelve languages | View available forms and publications
- April 1, 2023 – OVSRS implements automated notification to registered victims of an offender’s discharge from parole.
Additional Resources
County District Attorney Offices
Marsy’s Law
Formed in 1988, the mission of CDCR’s Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) is to give crime victims and their families a voice. The formation of the office has laid the groundwork for enforcing victims’ rights and providing services.
OVSRS maintains a comprehensive victim services program and establishes justice practices to ensure crime victims and survivors are afforded the utmost respect in exercising their legal rights. To this end, OVSRS is responsible for providing information, notification, restitution, outreach, training, referral and support services to crime victims and their next of kin.
This website will provide you with valuable information if you were the victim, survivor, or witness to a crime and the offender was sentenced to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) either in an adult or juvenile facility.
