Understanding the Emotional & Physical Impact of Crime Victimization: A Handbook, Summaries of German Culture

Download Understanding the Emotional & Physical Impact of Crime Victimization: A Handbook and more Summaries German Culture in PDF only on Docsity! Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. The Impact of Victimization Prepared by the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime Introduction Criminal victimization is a frightening and unsettling experience for many Canadians. It is unpredictable, largely unpreventable and often unexpected. Unlike normal life experiences, victimization is not sought out and never welcomed. It is debilitating and demoralizing. Its effects can be often long-term and difficult to overcome. Victims may be confused, fearful, frustrated and angry. They want to know why this happened, and why it happened to them. Victims often have no knowledge of who or where to turn in the aftermath of crime. They feel insecure and do not know who to trust or rely on for support, understanding, and help. Not only do they suffer physically, emotionally, psychologically and financially from their victimization, they are also often burdened by the complexity of the criminal justice system. What is crime? Crime occurs when someone breaks the law. In Canada, what constitutes unlawful behaviour is recorded in the Criminal Code of Canada. When someone commits an act that is a violation of the Criminal Code, they may be charged with a crime and arrested. Some crimes are against property (for example, break and enter and fraud) and other crimes are committed against persons (for example, physical and sexual assault). Some crimes involve both property and people. All crime is serious and should be treated as such. It is important to remember that even relatively “minor” crime can be devastating to a person’s life. Crime Prevention Some Canadians try to avoid victimization by being aware of their surroundings, having safety plans and perhaps even taking self-defence classes. Having a safety plan is a good idea, but it cannot guarantee personal safety. Keep in mind that most people are victimized by people who are known to them, not strangers. Who is a crime victim? In Canada, a victim of crime may be defined differently depending upon which province you live in. For the purpose of preparing a victim impact statement under section 722 (4) of the Criminal Code, a victim is defined as: (a) the person to whom harm was done of who suffered physical or emotional loss as a result of the commission of the offence; and (b) where the person described in paragraph (a) is dead, ill or otherwise incapable of making a statement referred to in subsection (1) includes the spouse of any relative of that person, anyone who is in law or fact the custody of that person or is responsible for the care of support of that person or any dependant of that person. Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. In general, crime victims are those people most directly affected by crime. Even if an offender is never found, the person who has been victimized should still be considered a victim. It is a myth that if no offender is caught, then no victim exists. Family members, friends and others who care about the victim may also be affected when a crime is committed. These people, along with the victim, may need information and support. How does crime affect people? Crime affects everyone differently. Victimization often causes trauma and depending upon the level of trauma that a person has already experienced in their lifetime, crime can be devastating. In general, victimization often impacts people on an emotional, physical, financial, psychological, and social level. The Emotional Impact of Victimization Shock, disbelief and denial – Initially, victims may find it difficult to believe they have become a victim of crime. They may even pretend that it did not happen at all. These reactions can last for a few moments or they may be present for months and even years. It is not uncommon for victims to assume a ‘childlike’ state and may even need to be cared for by others for some time. It is also common for victims to feel as though the crime occurred when they were in a dreamlike state. Once the initial shock of the crime has worn off, victims may experience other emotions such as anger, fear, frustration, confusion, guilt, shame, and grief. Anger or rage – Victims may be angry with God, the offender, service providers, family members, friends, the criminal justice system, or even themselves. Many victims experience strong desires for revenge or getting even. Hate may even felt by victims. These strong emotions are often disapproved of by the rest of society, which can leave the victim feeling like an outcast. It is certainly justified for victims to feel anger toward the person or people who harmed them. Fear or Terror – It is common for victims to feel terror or fear following a crime that involved a threat to one’s safety or life, or to someone else a victim cares about. Fear can cause a person to have panic attacks if they are ever reminded of the crime. Fear can last for quite some time following the commission of a crime and under certain circumstances, it can become debilitating. Fear or terror that becomes overwhelming is unhealthy and victims should consult their family physician about it as soon as possible. Frustration – Many victims are frustrated by the feelings of helplessness or powerlessness that surface when the crime takes place. This can be especially true if victims were unable to fend off an offender, call for help or run away. After the crime, victims may continue to feel frustration if they cannot access the support and information that is necessary to their healing. Confusion – Victims of crime may become confused if they are unsure of what actually happened, as crimes often occur quickly and are chaotic. Victims might also become Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. In the long-term, crime can adversely impact the victim's employment. The victim may find it impossible to return to work, or their work performance may be adversely affected, resulting in demotion, loss of pay, and possibly dismissal. This is particularly likely where the crime occurred at work, as it may be difficult for the victim to avoid people or situations which led to the initial victimization. Marital and other relationships are also likely to be affected by crime and this may have a significant effect on the family's financial position. Research shows that the shock waves from victimization touch not only the victim but also the victim's immediate family and next of kin, neighbors, and acquaintances. This holds true for the emotional and the financial consequences, and the effects can endure for years or even for a lifetime. In the case of child abuse, exposure to violence, and abuse of power, the effects can be passed on from one generation to the next. While this is to be expected in connection with offences such as murder, torture, and rape, the crimes of assault, robbery, and burglary can also leave enduring feelings of powerlessness, insecurity, anger, and fear. Communities and organizations can also be victimized leading to their deterioration over time. The effects of victimization hit particularly hard on the poor, the young, the powerless, the disabled, and the socially isolated. Research shows that those already touched by prior victimization are particularly susceptible to subsequent victimization by the same or other forms of crime. These repeat victims are often found to reside in high-crime communities in many countries. The Psychological Impact of Victimization It is almost impossible to predict how an individual will respond to crime. Psychological injuries created by crime are often the most difficult to cope with and have long-lasting effects. As crime is usually experienced as more serious than an accident or misfortune, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that loss and injury have been caused by the deliberate act of another human being. Common reactions to crime can be split into four stages: The initial reaction may include shock, fear, anger, helplessness, disbelief and guilt. As mentioned previously, some of these reactions may reoccur at a later stage as well, for example when attending a trial or going to hospital for medical treatment. A period of disorganization may follow these initial reactions. This phase may manifest itself in psychological effects such as distressing thoughts about the event, nightmares, depression, guilt, fear, and a loss of confidence and esteem. Life can seem to slow down and become meaningless. Previously held beliefs and faiths may no longer provide comfort. Behavioral responses might include increased alcohol or substance abuse, fragmentation of social relationships, avoidance of people and situations associated with the crime, and social withdrawal. Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. The third stage is reconstruction and acceptance, which leads to the fourth stage of normalization/adjustment. Victims often try to come to terms with crime by longing for everything to be as it was before and to turn the clock back. In this crucial stage of recovery victims begin to fully accept the reality of what has happened. Victims may try to reinterpret their experience and possibly find an explanation for what has happened or to decide that the crime has lead to personal growth. The boundaries between these different stages are not as clear-cut as outlined here and victims may not progress smoothly through the stages, but at times hover between them. The extent to which people (victims, witnesses, family members, community members) may be affected by crime will vary enormously among individuals; at one extreme people may shrug off very serious crimes with no noticeable effects, while at the other extreme people become “stuck'' in a particular stage and never move on. Stress When a person is under great stress, as many people are who are victimized, he or she may have more difficulty than usual thinking clearly, keeping their emotions under control, staying physically healthy, or behaving appropriately in social situations. The trauma of being a crime victim can definitely impact on a person’s ability to function. Becoming a victim of crime is a major stressor in one’s life. A victim may feel continuously uncomfortable or in a state of crisis. It may be difficult to restore a state or sense of balance to one’s life. As their outlook on life is changed significantly by the crime, some victims cannot ever restore that sense of balance. They may have trouble trusting others, taking part in activities they used to enjoy and be fearful of places or strangers. Social Injuries & Secondary Victimization Social injuries are those that may be caused by society in the aftermath of the crime. They may include being treated insensitively or not receiving the services and/or information that a victim requires. Anyone can cause a social injury: a family member, a friend, a law enforcement officer, a Crown prosecutor, a member of the clergy, a crisis counselor or a victim services worker. Secondary victimization refers to the victimization which occurs, not as a direct result of the criminal act, but through the response of institutions and individuals to the victim. The following are a few examples of secondary victimization: - The refusal to recognize their experience as criminal victimization. - Intrusive or inappropriate conduct by police or other criminal justice personnel. - The whole process of criminal investigation and trial (decisions about whether or not to prosecute, the trial itself, the sentencing of the offender, and his or her eventual release). - The victim perceives difficulties in balancing their rights with those of the accused or the offender. - Criminal justice processes and procedures do not take the perspective of the victim into account. Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. - Relatives may have restricted access to the body of a loved one due to hospital policies and procedures. - The hurried schedule of the emergency room may affect a sexual assault victim's privacy or sense of dignity. - School personnel may discount child disclosure of abuse. - Doctors may not acknowledge signs of spouse abuse. - Spiritual leaders may attempt to guide victims into paths of forgiveness or accommodation before they are ready or against their wishes. - Intrusive or inappropriate investigation and filming, photographing, and reporting by the media. Even agencies set up to help the victims of crime, such as victim services, victim compensation systems, refugee services, and mental health institutions may have some policies and procedures that lead to secondary victimization. The attitude of individuals is also important. Some people with whom the victim has contact (e.g. family, friends and colleagues) may wish to distance themselves from the distress of the crime by blaming the victim for what has occurred. They may view the victim's behavior as having contributed to, or even having caused, the victimization. They may deny the impact of the crime on the victim by urging them to forget about the crime and “get on with their lives.'' Families can be a particularly powerful influence in this respect. Victims of abuse of power have particular difficulty in gaining recognition of the fact that they have been victimized. The essence of abuse of power is that it is committed by those who should be expected to protect the population. The shock and loneliness of victimization can be much greater for these victims. After Victimization What happens if there are no charges laid? The criminal justice process begins when an offence is reported, yet the suspect may not necessarily be charged with a criminal offence. The police may question a suspect, but that does not mean that formal charges will be brought against him or her. If the police and the Crown Attorney do not believe that enough evidence exists to have the accused found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, they may not lay an information (lay charges). If charges are not laid in your case, it does not mean that the police and Crown Attorney don’t believe you or that a crime did not take place. It may mean that there is not enough evidence to prove the charge in court. Victims understandably become very frustrated with the criminal justice system when charges are not brought against the person who caused harm to them or their family. A victim may interpret the response of the system as a let down and become bitter, angry and disillusioned with the entire criminal justice process. This response is not unexpected, as people believe that social institutions exist to protect them and address their needs if and when they are called upon. There is often a sense that someone “got away with it” and that “there was no justice.” Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. - Going through the criminal justice process. - Going through civil proceedings. The intensity and frequency of these crisis reactions usually decrease over time. Patience and time are important factors in the healing process. A victim’s cognitive state and the familial and social supports available to them can also greatly influence their recovery. Working for Positive Change Many victims have chosen to speak out and help others who may become victims of crime by advocating for changes to laws, joining support groups as counselors or story tellers or working within the victim services sector. Doing so has allowed many victims to feel as though they are contributing to society following their victimization. For many victims, destructive, unwanted victimization has given rise to highly motivated efforts to make our communities safer and more secure. Conclusion It is important to remember that victims do not choose to be victimized. Sexual assault victims do not choose to be raped; parents do not raise their children to be murdered; and women do not get married to be abused. Becoming a victim of crime is an unpleasant and unwanted life experience at best. The impact of criminal victimization is serious, throwing victims into a state of shock, fear, anxiety and anger. The emotional, physical, psychological and financial ramifications of crime can be devastating to victims. Coping with and recovering from victimization are complex processes. Sadly, some victims may never be able to do so. Oct’05 Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is intended for educational purposes only. Before implementing any intervention, please contact your local lawyer, police service or Crown Attorney's Office for further and more specific information. References “VICTIMS' RIGHTS - A VOICE, NOT A VETO”, Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, October 1998. http://www.parl.gc.ca/InfoComDoc/36/1/JURI/Studies/Reports/jurirp14-e.htm “Handbook on Justice for Victims”, United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, 2000. http://www.victimology.nl/onlpub/hb/hbook.html “Psychological Trauma of Crime Victimization”, National Organization for Victim Assistance, 2001. “From Pain to Power: Crime Victims Take Action”, U.S. Department of Justice – Office for Victims of Crime, September 1998. “The Trauma of Victimization”, National Organization for Victim Assi stance, http://www.try-nova.org.trauma.html