🤠 Texas Victim Rights & Resources
If you are a survivor of abuse, crime, or professional misconduct in Texas, this guide will help you navigate your rights, report wrongdoing, and access state and VOCA-funded resources to support your recovery.
⛔️ This guide is not a substitute for legal advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or reach out to a crisis hotline listed on our Support and Help page. While we strive to provide accurate, current information, laws and agency procedures may change. Always verify details directly with official sources or consult a licensed attorney in your area.
📜 Your Rights Under Texas Law
Texas guarantees crime victims the right to:
- Be treated with fairness and respect
- Be notified of court proceedings and offender status
- Be heard at sentencing, parole, and other key hearings
- Confer with prosecutors and request restitution
- Be protected from threats and intimidation
🔗 Texas Crime Victims’ Rights – Texas Attorney General 🔗 Texas Constitution – Article I, Section 30
📂 Public Records & Documentation
You may request:
- Police reports and body cam footage
- Court documents and sentencing information
- 911 audio and investigative records
💡 Use the Texas Public Information Act to file requests. Submit in writing and save confirmation emails and responses.
🏥 Requesting Medical Records
You may request:
- Your own medical records
- Records for a dependent or deceased individual (if legally authorized)
🔗 How to File a HIPAA Complaint – HHS.gov
🧑⚕️ Reporting Licensed Healthcare Providers
Texas Medical Board:
https://www.tmb.state.tx.us
Texas Board of Nursing:
https://www.bon.texas.gov
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors:
https://www.bhec.texas.gov
Texas Health and Human Services – Facility Complaints:
https://www.hhs.texas.gov
⚠️ Keep copies of your complaint submissions and responses for documentation.
💰 Victim Compensation in Texas
The Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program helps survivors cover costs resulting from violent crime.
Eligible expenses include:
- Medical, counseling, and dental treatment
- Funeral and burial costs
- Relocation and crime scene cleanup
- Lost wages and child/dependent care
Eligibility Requirements:
- Report the crime within a reasonable time (typically 72 hours)
- Apply within 3 years of the crime (extensions apply)
- Cooperate with law enforcement
🔗 Texas Victims’ Compensation Program 📞 Phone: 1-800-983-9933
🤝 VOCA-Funded Services in Texas
VOCA support is administered by the Office of the Attorney General, Crime Victim Services Division.
🔗 Texas VOCA Services 📞 General Info: 1-800-983-9933
No matter your story, you have rights. The Novel Advocate is here to make sure you’re seen, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
🤠 From ranch towns to border cities, Texas survivors — your voice is the fire they couldn’t put out.
