With a QR code, the NYPD hopes more victims of sexual violence in the city will be able to find the help they need to recover from the trauma they’ve experienced.
The department announced its new “Sexual Violence Survivor Resource Guide,” in partnership with the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, on Jan. 10 in Brooklyn as part of a renewed push to assist sexual violence survivors.
Every precinct in the five boroughs, and other public locations, will have the guide on the display in poster formats. Each guide will feature a prominent QR code that, when scanned by a smartphone, leads victims to online aid in a variety of areas — including child welfare services, physical and mental healthcare, financial support, legal options, and more.
“This aims to ease the overwhelming process survivors may face when seeking assistance. With a single click, these codes will unlock unlimited resources, information and care that the victims may need,” First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella said during the Jan. 10 announcement at the 75th Precinct stationhouse. “This guide is a reflection of the thoughtful collaboration between experts in the field and the hard work of the men and women in the Special Victims Unit.”
The QR codes will also be displayed found below ground in transit districts and at police service areas across the five boroughs. Cops will also be available to print the resource guide for those without access to a smartphone or the internet.
“All survivors of these heinous crimes deserve the best support and guidance that we can provide,” Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban said in a statement. “This new tool safely delivers a compendium of information that is immensely useful to anyone who has experienced, or is still experiencing, these horrors. I thank and commend our SVD investigators and our partners at the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault for their tireless dedication on behalf of all New Yorkers, particularly the brave survivors of sexual violence.”
Executive Director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault Emily Miles promised that the resource guide will be kept up to date, ensuring that the latest information and services will be available to anyone who faces sexual assault.
“The digital version of this guide is an ever-evolving guide meant to constantly evolve as programs change, as services change, so that survivors always have access to the most recent, up to date services across the city,” Miles said. “These services include legal assistance, access to hotlines, medical care and connection to short and long-term counseling services.”
The 52-page resource guide was compiled by both Alliance Against Sexual Assault and the NYPD Special Victims Division.
