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This information provides a brief introduction to a complex subject, so it does not address all the factors that are relevant to the needs of all crime victims. Hopefully, the information will help you to use creative and effective methods to address the victimization.

In addition to providing an overview of the victimization experience, we’ve included information on where to turn for more information and help. The experience of being a crime victim is different for every person, but many crime victims share similar reactions in response to a criminal event. It is helpful for you to know what to do and who to contact in the event a crime occurs.

Experts in the field of victim assistance have learned over the years that crime victims who are treated with dignity, compassion and respect will learn to cope more effectively with the pain of being a crime victim. They will also be more willing in the future to report crimes, trusting that they will be believed and treated well. Hopefully, if you are reading this, you will understand that those of us who work in the field of victim rights and services care about what happens to people who have been hurt by crime.

We encourage you to become familiar with your local victim assistance programs. Together, victims, survivors and victim advocates can work toward assuring that fundamental rights to fairness and justice are provided to all victims.

It is important for informed crime victims to be able to make their own choices about how to cope with their victimization. It is understood, however, that some people may not be able to use some or all of this information themselves. In those cases, the information should be used by family members and other service providers on behalf of the crime victim.

Note: To indicate that both males and females are affected by crime, the terms "he" and "she" will be used interchangeably.

The information contained here on how to get help is modified and adapted from NOVA’s basic textbook, Frontiers and Fundamentals.

Crime Prevention
It can be helpful to take proactive steps in an attempt to prevent crime and to be better prepared for the effects of crime, should one occur.

What is a Crime?
Technically, a crime is committed when someone breaks the law. However, the definition of a victim is not always so simple.

Who is a Victim of Crime
Crime victims are those people most directly affected by the crime because it was their body that was hurt or their property that was taken or damaged.

The Four Injuries
There are various types of injuries that a victim may experience. They can be broken down into four main categories: physical, financial, emotional, and social.

After a Crime Occurs
It is important to recognize that even the most careful person cannot prevent all crimes. If an offender is determined to commit a crime against someone, he can usually find someone to victimize. It is important not to blame anyone who becomes a crime victim, and to remember that it was not their fault. Even if the victim showed poor judgment in his behavior, the crime is still the offender’s fault.

The Trauma of Victimization
Becoming the victim of a crime leaves victims ­– and those around them – in a state where they are not thinking as clearly as they usually do, and they may feel overwhelmed. There is often financial loss and physical injury connected with victimization, but the most devastating part for many victims is the emotional pain caused by crime. It is difficult for many victims to understand that someone else wanted to hurt them. The experience of becoming a crime victim can shatter a person’s life in a variety of ways. This section will explore how that happens, and will describe some of the ways that people can put their lives together again after a crime.

Where to Find Help
There are crime victim assistance programs throughout the United States. Finding the most appropriate program may involve calling several different numbers and/or visting multiple websites. This section provides details on different types of agencies that can help.

Additional Victimization Information

Main NOVA Victim Information Section

Glossary of Criminal Justice Terms

Elderly Victims in Residential Care Facilities

Other Resources: Links, Phone Numbers, and Readings