What kind of victims
does the Justice Coalition help?
While crime can be committed in many
forms, the Justice Coalition focuses their work on those who are affected
by violent crimes, such as; murder, rape, other forms of forcible sex, robbery
and aggravated assault. "
What is a victim
advocate?
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary a
victim is one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any various conditions. An
advocate is one
that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court.
Victim advocates work with victims to
help plead their cases and their feelings in front of courts or any other
groups, such as the media. These individuals also help victims in understanding
what their rights and services are.
Can I prevent myself
from becoming a victim?
There are things that individuals can
do that can help a person from becoming a victim of crime. There are personal
habits and techniques that individuals can follow that can help, but no safety
plan or self-defense course can guarantee to keep a person safe. You can
stay safe by increasing your awareness of safety plans, which can allow you
to become cautious of your surroundings and confidence. A safety plan can
help you in emergencies.
A safety plan has to meet your individual
needs and can be developed with an expert on safety and crime prevention.
A few steps to help start you on your way can include:
- Don’t be afraid to talk about safety, crime
or violence with a person you trust
- Don’t buy into denial that there is no danger and that it
can’t
happen to you
- Have important phone numbers memorized or easily accessible
- Know about victim
rights and services
What is a crime?
A crime is committed when someone breaks
the law. There are many different areas of crime, such as violent crimes
and property crimes. A violent crime is a crime that takes place in which
an individual experience violence against themselves. Crimes that are described
as violent crimes include: murder, rap, other forms of forcible sex, robbery
and aggravated assault. Property crime is when crimes are committed against
property, such as burglary, larceny, vehicle theft and arson. Sometimes a
person can become a victim of both violent and property crime.
For a better understanding of what is
criminal behavior in your area contact your local law enforcement agency.
What
kind of injuries can a victim experience?
There are several type of injuries that
a victim may experience. Four categories best explains what type of injuries
a person may experience when becoming a victim of crime. These categories
include the following:
- Emotional injuries, such as long lasting effects
(trauma)
- Physical injuries, such as damage to the body
- Financial injuries, such as damage that causes monetary
problems; money or possessions stolen
- Social injuries, such as injuries that occur due
to society; as when a victim is treated insensitively
What steps should
I take after a crime has taken place?
1. Get medical
care
-
If a crime has taken place the first
step should always be to get medical help if it is needed. When calling
911 to report a crime, it is important that you informed the operator that
an ambulance is needed to provide medical help.
2. Report
the crime
-
To ensure your safety, it is always
important to report a crime to your local law enforcement agency, no matter
how small the crime may seem.
3. Check
the progress of the investigation -
Victims should always be kept informed
about the investigation. Victims can call the investigative officer to
find out about the progress if the officer does not contact them.
Once a person is arrested for the crime
they are temporarily taken to a local jail and may be allowed to get out
of jail through a bond while waiting to hear if they must go to trail. If
this takes place a victim should be notified as soon as possible.
After there has been an arrest the
case will go to the prosecutor’s office and a prosecutor (the government
lawyer for the people of that area will be assigned to the case. That individual
will review the case and decides if the case should go to court or be handle
in a different way. If the offender is taken to court and is found guilty
they will face a “sentence” which is an order for them to do
jail time, community service or perhaps pay monetary damage.
For more information about victims assistance
please call the Justice Coalition at 904-783-6312 or visit the National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA) web
site.
