Impact Advocacy

Shifting cultures and transforming systems toward a restorative ecosystem.

Our Policy Priorities

enforceability of rights

Volare prioritizes strengthening the enforceability of crime victims’ rights so that protections guaranteed under the law are not merely symbolic but actionable. Too often, survivors’ rights exist in statute without mechanisms that ensure meaningful compliance. Volare advocates for policies that provide clear enforcement pathways, independent legal standing for victims, timely notification and participation rights, and accountability requirements for agencies that fail to uphold them. This priority reflects Volare’s belief that a just system is one in which rights are real, exercisable, and enforceable, not contingent on discretionary practice.

Trauma-informed & restorative ecosystems

In a restorative ecosystem, systems—including schools, hospitals, and the justice system—support survivors and prevent trauma by addressing the root causes of crime. Volare promotes the expansion of these ecosystems locally and nationally by advocating for initiatives like mandatory trauma education, and restorative alternatives for survivors of harm.

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enhanced safety

Volare prioritizes enhanced safety by advocating for policies that protect survivors both physically and procedurally. This includes ensuring access to essential post-incident health interventions, such as HIV-prevention medication, as well as strengthening notification systems so survivors are promptly informed of events like defendant release or post-conviction status changes. Volare promotes a system that proactively reduces risk, delivers timely information, and equips survivors with what they need to stay safe throughout the justice process.

Driving Policy Change

Crime Victims’ rights act reform

The CVRA is the cornerstone of Volare’s work and the framework that guides crime victims’ rights attorneys nationwide. For years, Volare has been a leading voice pushing to modernize and fortify the CVRA. Our advocacy focuses on strengthening accountability for violations of victims’ rights, increasing transparency around the duties and responsibilities of system actors, and expanding meaningful enforcement mechanisms. These reforms are essential to ensuring that the rights guaranteed to survivors are not merely aspirational, but fully realized and protected.

dc’s expanding support for victims of crime amendment act of 2022

Volare is proud to have championed the expansion and strengthening of rights and resources for all crime victims and survivors in DC. In shaping this bill, Volare worked closely with the DC Council Judiciary Committee to establish the formal role of a “crime victim advocate” and to enhance privacy and confidentiality protections across all forms of victimization. These advancements significantly improve equity in access to vital services, especially for underserved victimizations like gun violence victims.

dc’s sexual assault victims rights amendment act (2013, 2017, 2019)

This DC law, known as SAVRAA, is the bedrock of sexual assault survivors’ rights in the District and the legal framework that enables Volare advocates to operate effectively. As the sole advocacy response provider in DC from 2013–2019—and one of only two providers thereafter—Volare brought unmatched expertise to the development and refinement of this legislation. Our on-the-ground experience made our insight indispensable in identifying systemic gaps and ensuring that SAVRAA closed critical loopholes in both rights protections and service delivery for sexual assault survivors.

eliminating the statute of limitations for sexual abuse & child sexual abuse in dc

Volare testified before the DC Council in strong support of eliminating statutes of limitations for sexual abuse and child sexual abuse, emphasizing that survivors need the time and space to heal before deciding whether to come forward. Statutes of limitations too often function as arbitrary barriers that pressure survivors into premature disclosures and fail to reflect the well-documented realities of delayed reporting. Removing these limits is essential to ensuring that survivors can seek justice on their own terms.

collaboration is key

We cannot do this work alone. As part of our greater efforts towards systems reform, we work alongside partnerships within our local and national community to effectuate change. Some of these include:

  • DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence (DCCEDV)

  • DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV)

  • DC Girls Coalition

  • Volare’s Victim Legal Network of DC

  • DC Consortium of Legal Service Providers

  • Victim Assistance Network (DC Office of Victim Services)

  • Crime Victim Compensation Program Advisory Commission

  • DC’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)

Past Testimony

View the links below to review Volare’s testimony before various legislative bodies.