Beaumont

Victims Of Crime

Posted on 06/29/09, 07:53 pm

The following discussion will focus on the effect of crime on its victims, the rights of crime victims, and civil legal remedies for victims of violent crime and other types of crime.

• Reply #1 06/29/09  8:06pm
  
  Beaumont
  Trauma of Victimization
  
  Morton Bard, co-author (along with Dawn Sangrey) of "The Crime Victim's Book", has described a victim's reaction to crime as the crisis reaction. Victims will react differently depending on the level of personal violation they experience and their state of equilibrium at the time of victimization. Victims of nonviolent crimes - such as theft - may experience less of a personal violation than victims of violent crimes. Homicide is the ultimate violation, but it leaves behind the survivors to experience the personal violation. All people have their own 'normal' state of equilibrium. This normal state is influenced by everyday stressors such as illness, moving, changes in employment, and family issues. When any one of these changes occurs, equilibrium will be altered, but should eventually return to normal. When people experience common stressors and are then victimized, they are susceptible to more extreme crisis reactions. There are common underlying reactions the victim will undergo either in the immediate hours or days after the crime. Frequent responses to a victimization include shock and numbness, denial, disbelief and anger, and finally (hopefully), recovery.
• Reply #2 07/15/09  4:18pm
  
  Beaumont
  Shock And Numbness
  
  Shock and numbness are usually considered a part of the initial stages of the crisis reaction. Victims are faced with a situation beyond their control and may go almost immediately into shock and become disoriented.
• Reply #3 08/19/09  8:41pm
  
  Beaumont
  Victims may experience what is referred to as the 'fight or flight' syndrome. The fight or flight syndrome is a basic physiological response that individuals have no control over. Because many victims do not understand this response, and their lack of control over it, they do not understand why they fled instead of fought, or vice versa. A woman who takes a self-defense course may blame herself when confronted by an attacker because she is unable to put into practice what she has learned. A man may be criticized, or may not be believed, if he did not fight back when confronted. However, to question a victim's response often has the effect of inflicting a secondary injury.
• Reply #4 09/09/09  7:17pm
  
  Beaumont
  In many instances, physical and emotional paralyses occur, and the victim is unable to make rational decisions such as reporting the incident to the police or obtaining medical attention. The individual loses control, feels vulnerable, lonely, and confused; the sense of self becomes invalidated.
• Reply #5 10/19/09  7:19pm
  
  Beaumont
  Denial, Disbelief, And Anger
  
  In this phase, victims' moods will fluctuate. As psychologist Steven Berglas states in his article, 'Why Did This Happen to Me?' (Psychology Today, February 1985), victims will think, "This could not have happened to me" or "Why did this happen to me?" Many will replay the disturbing event by dreaming, having nightmares, or even fantasizing about killing or causing bodily harm to the offender. Survivors of homicide victims may even express anger at their loved one, believing that if the victim had done something differently, he or she would not have been killed. During this period, victims must contend with a variety of stressful emotions such as fear, despair, self-pity, even guilt and shame for their anger and hostility.
• Reply #6 11/16/09  9:12pm
  
  Beaumont
  Recovery
  
  If victims are to recover from the traumatic event, it is crucial that they be provided with the proper support during the initial impact stage and throughout the criminal justice process. Immediate crisis intervention is needed. Trained crisis counselors or other intervening persons should inquire about victims' welfare by asking if they feel safe, assuring victims that they are if that is true, and determining if they are in need of medical attention. Victims will often blame themselves for the crime. The crisis worker needs to assure victims that they were not at fault. If these initial and crucial steps are missing, the trauma can have a long-term effect on the healing and recovery process. After experiencing the initial traumatic reactions to victimization, victims will most likely undertake the task of rebuilding their equilibrium. Their lives may never again be quite the same as before the traumatic event, but they can be helped to begin regaining some sense of control and confidence.
• Reply #7 11/16/09  9:12pm
  
  Beaumont
  More information to follow shortly...

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