ROAR bridges gaps between the criminal justice, social services, and healthcare systems for survivors.

Our staff of attorneys, paralegals, social workers, therapists, and a community health nurse manager collaborate to help survivors of crime with free legal services, social work, counseling/therapy, and nurse care management services.

The majority of ROAR’s clients are family members of homicide victims or gunshot survivors. When needed, our attorneys meet survivors at the hospital to address pressing legal issues and make sure their rights are protected while they’re being treated for their injuries. Violent crime survivors are often in shock, suddenly facing a myriad of health, legal, and financial problems, all while fearing for their own safety and that of their loved ones. 

We wrap our holistic range of legal, social, medical, and mental health services around each survivor, all in one location.

How We Help

ROAR provides survivors with:

• Legal representation in legal issues directly impacted by the crime – housing, peace/protection orders, seeking accommodations at work or school, immigration (U-Visas, T-Visas, and VAWA Self-Petitions), denials of benefits (including victims’ compensation), expungement, and some limited family law matters.
• Education and enforcement of crime victim’s legal rights, which includes actually representing the victim in any criminal justice proceeding (REMEMBER: the prosecutor does NOT represent the victim, they represent the State of Maryland).
• Legal information about the criminal justice system—including post-conviction—and what to expect whether you are the victim, a witness, or the defendant.
• Skilled nurse care management to help survivors access and coordinate the medical care they need for acute or chronic health issues.
• Trauma-informed individual and group therapy where survivors can learn from each other as they work toward their personal development goals.
• Case management to help survivors access resources for safe and affordable housing, financial benefits, employment, transportation, and more.

ROAR helps survivors apply for and access:

• Crime victim’s compensation financial benefits
• Housing assistance, such as emergency transfers in public housing
• Protective/peace orders
• Employment and education resources
• Immigration assistance such as T and U-Visas
• Substance abuse treatment
• Funds, food, transportation and clothing assistance

Survivors qualify for our services if:

• The crime took place in Baltimore City, Maryland
• They lived in Baltimore City when the crime happened
• Their annual income is less than $70,000 (plus an additional $5,000 for each dependent)

Survivors do NOT have to report the crime to police or any other authority in order to qualify. We assist people regardless of immigration status, criminal backgrounds or outstanding warrants.

While our direct services program is focused on survivors who qualify, we also offer free self-help resources online to anyone, anywhere.