Impact of crime on victims III

The main needs of Victims

Victims require a continuum of timely support and service to heal from the trauma they suffer.

Victims’ needs change over time. Some needs exist immediately after the offence, (the need to secure property: when a door has been broken open by a burglar, it may be very important for the person living in the apartment to get it fixed as a first step so that they can sleep that night), other needs (the desire to make one’s voice heard during criminal proceedings) may arise during the criminal justice process.

Here are the main needs of victims:

• Safety: Protection from perpetrators and revictimization; Crime prevention through collaborative problem solving; a restored sense of individual and community safety

• Information: Verbal and written information about justice system processes and victim services that is clear, concise, and user-friendly

• Access: Ability to participate in the justice system process and obtain information and services, regardless of individual or family circumstances

• Support: Services and assistance to enable participation in justice processes, recovery from trauma, and repair of harm caused by crime

• Continuity: Consistency in approaches and methods across agencies; continuity of support through all stages of the justice process and trauma recovery

• Voice: Empowerment to speak out about processing of individual cases; opportunities to influence agency and system-wide policies and practices

• Justice is achieved when all stakeholders are satisfied with the process and the outcome is fair to all participants.

Democratic societies have an obligation to alleviate the effects of crime, including the adverse consequences of victimisation.

People who fall victim to crime in the European Union are entitled to certain rights:

Want to know more about EU Victims’ Rights Directive?