What
You Can Do If You Are a Victim of Crime
"I
don't believe half of the American population or even a
small portion knows what can happen to you when you are
a victim of a crime going through the criminal justice process."
-A crime victim quoted in New Directions from the Field:
Victims' Rights and Services for the 21st Century, 1998.
Crime
victimization is a frightening and unsettling experience
for the millions of Americans whose lives it touches each
year. As recently as 1972, there were almost no services
available to help crime victims or their survivors repair
the damage done to their lives and property, or contend
with the traumatic and frustrating ordeal of prosecution
of the offender. Today, however, due largely to the dedicated
efforts of advocates, lawmakers, and individual victims
of crime, there is a tremendous range of services and resources
designed to help victims obtain justice and healing. The
Office of Victims of Crime (OVC), the U.S. Department of
Justice agency that advocates for the fair treatment of
crime victims, wants you to know that if you or someone
you love is a victim of crime--you have rights, you can
get help, and you can work for a positive change. There
are numerous victims of crime offices throughout the country.
You can find your local WV Victim Witness Assistance Program
office by clicking here
or by clicking the VWAP County Programs link to the left.
You
Have Rights
A majority
of States have amended their constitutions to guarantee
certain rights for crime victims. Typically, these include
the following fundamental rights:
If you
are a victim of or witness to a crime, these rights apply
to you. Information about these rights may be obtained through
your local victim/witness assistance program (usually located
in the prosecutor's office), your State Attorney General's
Office, or US Attorneys' offices.
You
Can Get Help
Literally
thousands of programs now exist in the United States that
provide services and sanctuary to crime victims. These programs
are located within both State government agencies and private
nonprofit or charitable organizations. Services provided
through these programs are two general types--compensation
and assistance. Crime victim compensation
programs reimburse victims of crime occurring within the
State (including victims of federal crimes) for crime-related
expenses. Crimes include violent crimes such as homicide,
rape, drunk driving, domestic violence, and child sexual
abuse and neglect. Expenses covered are medical costs, mental
health counseling, funeral and burial costs, and lost wages
or loss of support. Crime victim assistance programs
provide a range of services including crisis intervention,
counseling, emergency shelter, criminal justice advocacy,
and emergency transportation. Although compensation and
assistance are usually provided to individuals, in certain
instances entire communities may be eligible to receive
assistance when a multiple victimization occurs. Information
about compensation and assistance can usually be obtained
through your local prosecutor's office or may be provided
to you by your local law enforcement agency when you report
an offense.
Financial
support for many of these crime victims programs is provided
through the Crime Victims Fund administered by OVC. The
Fund is supported, not by tax dollars, but by fines, penalty
assessments, and bond forfeitures collected from convicted
Federal offenders and is distributed among the States and
Territories annually.
You
Can Work for Positive Change
The
progress that has been achieved to improve the treatment
of crime victims is due largely to the efforts of untold
thousands of individuals who have turned their victimization
into a force for positive change. Victims and survivors
of victims of homicide, rape, child abuse, domestic violence,
and other serious offenses have transformed their experience
into a vehicle for ensuring that victims of similar types
of crime are afforded true justice, meaningful assistance,
and compassionate treatment before the law. Many of these
victims and survivors have volunteered their own time and
resources toward such worthwhile activities as creating
and staffing program, conducting legislative advocacy, working
in shelters, answering crisis hotlines, and speaking on
victim panels. Similar opportunities exist in virtually
every community. Working for positive change will help ensure
that this progress is not lost and that new ground can be
broken as greater justice and healing is gained for all
victims of crime.
Courtesy
of the OVC--Office
for Victims of Crime
