Crime Victims
Who are crime victims?
They are innocent people who suffer harm when someone else breaks the law. Crime affects millions of lives. About 12 million people are victims of murder, assault, robbery, rape, burglary and other crimes each year. It is estimated that one half of all crimes are never reported. Families, friends, communities, and the nation as a whole suffer when crime strikes.
Many crime victims must learn to cope with changes in:
HEALTH - Crime can temporarily - or permanently - damage a person's physical and mental health.
OUTLOOK - Crime can cause people to lose confidence in themselves and in others. It can turn a trusting person into an overly cautious, fearful one.
RELATIONSHIPS - Crime can disrupt lives to the extent that normal relationships with family and friends are seriously strained.
Fortunately, most victims can adjust to changes caused by crime and return to a normal way of life.
Crime can cause visible and invisible wounds and may suffer:
Physical Injuries - More than 1,300,000 crimes committed each year involve the use of force or the threat of force. The results of violent crime can range from minor bruises to serious injuries or even death.
Emotional Harm - Being the victim of a crime reminds us that we are vulnerable - crime doesn't just happen to someone else. This discovery may cause feelings of anger, guilt, shame, insecurity, fear and depression. In turn, these reactions can interfere with the way that the crime victim relates to other people.
Financial hardship - Some crime victims may experince financial problems due to theft of money and/or valuables, medical bills, counseling costs, lost time from work, loss of future income due to a permanent disability, damage to uninsured property.
Other effects - Crime victims may feel bitter, especially if the criminal is not arrested, is found innocent, or is given a light sentence. They may feel inconvenienced by court procedures, lack of information, filing insurance claims, etc. They may feel isolated from family and friends who mistakenly think the victim is to blame for the crime, or is somehow "different" because of it.
It takes time for wounds to heal. Different people recover at different rates, but most crime victims go through a period of:
Shock: It is common for people to feel numb, disbelieving, and helpless when their lives are suddenly upset. Victims of crime may have difficulty eating, sleeping and concentrating. Memories of the crime may frequently intrude upon their thoughts.
Struggle: The crime victim may feel caught between the need to forget the crime and the need to express the fears it's caused. The crime victim may also feel intense anger - a need to get even or blame someone for what has happened. This anger may lead the person to:
imagine ways to get revenge
vent anger on others
blame him or herself for what has taken place
Adjustment: Eventually, the fear and anger subside. The crime victim spends less time thinking and talking about the crime, and can put the incident in perspective. Some crime victims have more difficulty adjusting than others do. Professional counseling may help them to understand their feelings and reactions.
Crime victims can get through these difficult times with the help of family, friends, law enforcement officers, victim advocates, counselors, medical professionals, clergy and many others. A victim's family and close friends may also go through periods of shock, struggle, and adjustment. They, too, may need help to get through these difficult periods.
Understanding Criminal Legal Procedures:
The more victims know about the legal system, the more comfortable they will feel as various procedures take place. Here is what might happen:
An investigation is conducted by the officer who responds to the call for help. The officer's job is to gather information that will lead to the criminal's arrest. You can help if you describe exactly what happened, even if it is embarrassing, ask questions if you are confused, cooperate with the detective or specialist who may conduct a follow up investigation.
A suspect is arrested and arraigned (formally charged with the crime). This may be followed by suspect's release on bail or personal recognizance, plea bargaining. Your role before and after the arrest may involve looking at police photographs or lineups, testifying at any hearings, and reporting any threats made by a suspect released pending trial.
A trial is held during which the prosecutor (attorney who tries to prove the accused is guilty) and the defense attorney (lawyer for the accused) ask witnesses questions. If you are a witness for the prosecution, chances are you will be subpoenaed (given a legal document telling you to appear in court) and asked questions by the prosecutor and defense attorney at the trial.
The verdict is announced, and the judge imposes a sentence if the defendent is found guilty. The defendent may be sent to jail or prison, fined, placed on probation, made to pay restitution.
A lot can be done for crime victims including:
Counseling to ease the impact of the crisis
Referrals to other agencies that can help
Emergency food and clothing
Help with replacing stolen items that the victim can not get along without
Information about preventing future crimes
Programs to help witnesses may provide:
Notification of when to appear in court
Reports of progress in the case
Transportation to and from court
Child care during legal proceedings
Assistance in talking with the victim's employer, to help the victim avoid losing pay while in court
Restitution and compensation:
compensation: money paid by the state to help cover losses, regardless of whether the criminal is caught.
restitution: payment in cash or services by the offender to help cover losses resulting from stolen or damaged property, medical expenses, lost wages, etc.
People who care:
Family and friends can have a tremendous effect on how well crime victims adjust. Among the ways they can help are to let victims know they care, remind victims that it's normal to be upset and confused, be good listeners, offer practical assistance (babysitting, transportation, etc.), aid victims in finding needed services and programs, encourage victims to seek professional help, if needed.
Law enforcement officers can do a great deal to help victims cope with the effects of crime. For example, police officers can give first aid, and arrange for other medical care, show concern by listening carefully and interviewing victims in private, tell victims about available victim/witness services and compensation programs.
A victim advocate may be appointed by the prosecutor's office or by the police as part of a victim/witness program. The advocates can be a great comfort to victims. The advocate's duties may be to explain court procedures, notify victims of arrests, bail hearings, and scheduling changes, accopmany victims to court, and speed the return of property recovered by the police, from the criminal.
Other people help too. These include medical personnel who are sensitive to the physical and emotional needs of victims and citizens who report crimes that they witness and who lobby legislators to promote bills to protect crime victim's rights. Follow link for these organizations.
How to get help:
The police department. To repot a crime, call the police emergency number. Or, dial "0" and tell the operator it is an emergency and that you want to be connected with the police department. You can dial the 911 emergency number it it is available in your community.
A probation agency. Services vary from one agency to another, but many probation agencies provide the courts with victim impact statements, and collect and distribute victim restitution payments.
The prosecutor's office. Personnel in this office can answer questions about legal procedures and may arrange for a victim advocate to help you.
Your mental health association or center. Call your local association or center if you need emergency emotional help.
Crime-victim assistance centers and rape crisis centers. These centers can provide support and services if you need them.
Hotlines may be available in your community to provide help in times of emergency or crisis.
Copyrighted information property of Channing L. Bete Co., Inc. For more information or a copy of this booklet, call (800) 628-7733.