LESSON 16: IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION

Who is a crime victim?

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 dependent of that person

How does crime affect people?

Criminal victimization is a frightening and unsettling experience for many Filipinos. 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.

Types of Losses

Tangible

o Property damage and loss (property damaged, taken, and not recovered)

o Medical care (payments for hospital and physicians,

o emergency medical transport, rehabilitation, prescription, medical devices,

and premature funeral expenses)
 o Mental health care (payments for services to crime victims by: psychiatrists,
psychologists, and social workers)

o Productivity (wages, benefits, housework, and school days lost by victims and
their families, productivity lost by co –workers and supervisors/agency
recruiting and training replacements for disabled workers, people stuck in
traffic jams caused by vehicular accident)

Intangible

o Pain (physical)

o Suffering (mental – anti – social behavior, emotional –trauma)

o Reduced quality of life (physical disability / incapacity)

Sufferings

Physical

o Physical injuries (such as gunshot wounds, lacerations, broken bones,

sprains, and burns)

o Physical injuries that lead to other health conditions (such as heart attack,
stroke, fractures from falling, and loss of dexterity)

o Physiological anxiety (including rapid heart rate, hyperventilation, and

stomach distress)

o Permanent disability

o Disfigurement

o Sleep disorders

o Inability to work

o For sexual assault victims: possible exposure to sexually transmitted

diseases, exposure to HIV, and unwanted pregnancy

Mental

o Slowed thinking
 o Confusion

o Disorientation

o Memory problems

o Intrusive memories or flashbacks

o Nightmares

o Inability to concentrate

o Difficulty in making decisions

o

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
confused while searching for answers to questions like “why did this happen to me?” It
maybe impossible to find out why someone else intended to hurt them.

Guilt or self-blame – Blaming oneself is common. Many victims believe they were “in
the wrong place at the wrong time.” If the victim does not have someone to blame, they
will often blame themselves. Guilt is also common when no offender is found. Later on,
when reflecting upon the crime, victims might feel guilty for not doing more to prevent
what happened. Lastly, some victims will experience ‘survivor guilt’ – they feel guilty that
they survived while someone else was injured or even killed. If a loved one is murdered,
surviving family and friends may even blame the victim. Too often, society blames
victims as well.

Shame and humiliation – Sadly, some victims blame themselves, particularly victims
of sexual abuse/assault or domestic violence. In crimes involving sexual acts, offenders
often degrade the victim by making them do humiliating things. Victims of rape, for
example, have long-lasting feelings of “being dirty”, and those feelings cannot be
“washed away.” Some victims even feel self-hatred because they believe that they can
no longer be loved by those who are close to them.

Grief or Sorrow – Intense sadness is often the most powerful long-term reaction to
crime. It is common for victims to become depressed after a crime occurs.

Financial Impact of Victimization

Victims who may have money stolen, or possessions stolen or damaged have been
financially injured. In many cases, stolen money and prized possessions are never
recovered. Understandably, this is very distressing to victims who may feel guilt, anger,
and frustration if they are unable to recover a family heirloom.

Although the financial impact of crime is less documented than the physical,
emotion or social impacts, victims may certainly incur costs in the following
ways:

o Medical bills (e.g., emergency transportation, hospital stays, inpatient and

outpatient physical care, medical supplies)

o Medication and prescription drugs

 o Replacement of eyeglasses, hearing aids, or other

o sensory aid items damaged, destroyed, or stolen

o Physical therapy

o Occupational therapy

o Job retraining

o Mental health counseling and therapy

o Loss of wages due to incapacitation, rehabilitation, or taking time off from

work to repair damage from property crimes, participate in criminal or juvenile
justice proceedings, or seek medical or mental health treatment

o Loss of or damage to personal property

o Costs of replacing locks and changing security devices

o For families of homicide victims, funeral and burial expenses and loss of
income
In some cases, such as stalking, victims may feel a need to move, a process likely to
incur financial costs. Also property value may diminish as a result of a violent crime
occurring in the house.

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.
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.

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:

o The refusal to recognize their experience as criminal victimization.

o Intrusive or inappropriate conduct by police or other criminal justice

personnel.

o 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).

o The victim perceives difficulties in balancing their rights with those of the
accused or the offender.

o Criminal justice processes and procedures do not take the perspective of the
victim into account.
LESSON 17: Recovering from Victimization

What do victims need after a crime is committed?

Victims need a variety of services and understanding in the aftermath of crime.

o Victims need to feel safe as crime often leaves them feeling helpless,
vulnerable, and frightened.

o In addition to fear, victims often have feelings of self-blame, anger, shame,

sadness, or denial. Their most common response is: “I don't believe this
happened to me.” Emotional distress may surface in seemingly peculiar ways,
such as laughter. Sometimes victims feel rage at the sudden, unpredictable,
and uncontrollable threat to their safety or lives. This rage can even be
directed at the people who are trying to help them.

o Victims should be able to express their emotions. Victims often need to air
them emotions and tell their story after the trauma of the crime. They may
also need to have their feelings accepted and have their story heard by a
nonjudgmental listener.

o Victims may need to know “what comes next”. Following victimization,

victims often have concerns about their role in the investigation of the crime
and in the legal proceedings. They may also be concerned about issues such
as media attention or payment for health care or property damage.
 Victimization is stressful and knowing what to expect in the aftermath of crime
can help relieve anxiety.

Recovering from victimization

Putting the pieces of one’s life together following a crime can be a complicated task. It is
often an emotional process filled with ups and downs. For most victims, a new sense of
equilibrium can eventually be reached, but this process can be time consuming and
difficult. For some victims, support groups and/or counselling may be necessary.

The healing process is often slow and can be complicated by family, friends and service
providers who may not show understanding. Asking why the victim has not “gotten over
it yet” or when he/she is going to “put it behind her and get on with the rest of her life,”
are some examples of insensitive remarks that are often made to victims in the
aftermath of crime.

It is possible for the recovery process to involve the following long-term crisis
reactions:

o Health problems related to the stress of the victimization (i.e., headaches,

high blood pressure);

o Eating problems (not having an appetite, eating too much, feeling nauseated);

o Sleeping problems (insomnia, nightmares); and

o Relationship problems (being cranky and irritable, not being able to trust
others).
These reactions can last for years following a crime. They are all normal responses
for people who have survived a traumatic event.

Memories of the crime can trigger the long-term crisis reactions. When memories are
Re-awakened, it can be as painful as the original crime, and at the same time, be
confusing for the victims.

Reminder events will vary with different victims but may include:

o Seeing the offender again.

o Sensing (seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting) something similar to

what the victim sensed during the crime.

o Media coverage of the crime or similar crimes.

o Anniversaries of the crime.

 o Holidays or significant life events.

o Going through the criminal justice process.

o 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.

Some ideas that may help you cope with the trauma or loss:

o Find someone to talk with about how you feel and what you are going
through. Keep the phone number of a good friend nearby to call when you
feel overwhelmed or feel panicked.

o Allow yourself to feel the pain. It will not last forever.

o Keep a journal.

o Spend time with others, but make time to spend time alone.

o Take care of your mind and body. Rest, sleep, and eat regular, healthy meals.

o Re-establish a normal routine as soon as possible, but don’t overdo.

o Make daily decisions, which will help to bring back a feeling of control over
your life.

o Exercise, though not excessively and alternate with periods of relaxation.

o Undertake daily tasks with care. Accidents are more likely to happen after
severe stress.

o Recall the things that helped you cope during trying times and loss in the past
and think about the things that give you hope.
Turn to them on bad days. These are things to avoid:

o Be careful about using alcohol or drugs to relieve emotional pain.

o Becoming addicted not only postpones healing, but also createsnew

problems.

o Make daily decisions, but avoid making life changing decisions inthe
immediate aftermath, since judgment may be temporarily impaired.

o Don’t blame yourself—it wasn’t your fault.

 Your emotions need to be expressed. Try not to bottle them up. For some victims
and families of victims, life is forever changed. Life may feel empty and hollow. Life
doesn’t “mean” what it used to. Part of coping and adjusting is redefining the future.
What seemed important before may not be important now. Many victims find new
meaning in their lives as a result of their experience. It is important to remember that
emotional pain is not endless and that it will eventually ease. It is impossible to undo
what has happened but life can be good again in time.

For family and friends of a victim of crime:

o Listen carefully.

o Spend time with the victim.

o Offer your assistance, even if they haven’t asked for help.

o Help with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking, caring for the

o family, minding the children.

o Give them private time.

o Don’t take their anger or other feelings personally.

o Don’t tell them they are “lucky it wasn’t worse”—traumatized people are not
consoled by such statements.

o Tell them that you are sorry such an event has occurred to them and you
want to understand and help them.

Working for a 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.
LESSON 18: Terminologies in Victimology
This concept of

“Victim” was well known in the ancient civilizations, especially in Babylonia, Palestine,
Greece, and Rome. In each of these civilizations the law mandated that the victim
should be recognized as a person who deserved to be made whole again by the
offender.

“Crime victim” is a person who has been physically, financially or emotionally injured
and/or had their property taken or damaged by someone committing a crime.

“Victimogenesis” refers to the origin or cause of a victimization; the constellation of

variables which caused a victimization to occur.

Victim Precipitation” a victimization where the victim causes, in part or totally, their own
victimization.

“Vulnerability” is a physical, psychological, social, material or financial condition

whereby a person or an object has a weakness which could render them a victim if
another person or persons would recognize these weaknesses and take advantage of
them.
General Victim” is a person who has been physically, financially or emotionally injured
and/or had their property taken or damaged by someone, an event, an organization or a
natural phenomenon.

“Victimization” refers to an event where persons, communities and institutions are

damaged or injured in a significant way. Those persons who are impacted by persons or
events suffer a violation of rights or significant disruption of their well being.

“Victimology” is an academic scientific discipline which studies data that describes

phenomena and causal relationships related to victimizations. This includes events
leading to the victimization, the victim’s experience, its aftermath and the actions taken
by society in response to these victimizations. Therefore, victimology includes the study
of the precursors, vulnerabilities, events, impacts, recoveries, and responses by people,
organizations and cultures related to victimizations.

“Abuse of Power” is the violation of a national or international standard in the use of

organized powerful forces such that persons are injured physically, mentally,
emotionally, economically, or in their rights, as a direct and intentional result of the
misapplication of these forces.

“Victim Assistance, Support or Services” are those activities which are applied in
response to victimizations with the intention of relieving suffering and facilitating
recovery. This includes offering information, assessments, individual interventions, case
advocacy, system advocacy, public policy and program me development.

“Victim Recovery” is the resumption of the same or better level of functionality as was
enjoyed prior to victimization. Persons who have been victimized vary in their level of
mental health and wellbeing prior to their victimization. Consequently, victimization
affects each person in a different way and causes differing degrees of injury or trauma.
In their recovery it is necessary for victims to first try to regain their previous level of
functioning plus learn from their misfortune and hopefully exceed their previous level of
functionality.

To be recovered suggests that a person has at least regained their prior level of
well-being and at best, has exceeded it. This state may be measured by identifying their
previous mental condition and determining if they have at least regained that prior
status using the criteria of: trust in others, autonomy of self, individual initiative,
competency in daily activities, self-identity, interpersonal intimacy, control over personal
situations, successful relationships, safety in daily activities, acknowledgment of
memory, trauma symptoms have become manageable, self-esteem is restored,
resourcefulness is achieved, and there is an improved ability to ward off potential
threats.

“Child Abuse” is the intentional application of sexual, physical, emotional or

psychological injury to a child to include neglect at the hands of her or his parents or
care-provider within the confines of their family or place of care.
“Victim Offender Mediation” (VOM) is a formal process for face-to-face meetings in the
presence of a trained mediator between a victim of a crime and his/her offender who
committed that crime. This is also called victim-offender dialogue, victim-offender
conferencing, victim-offender reconciliation, or restorative justice. Often the victim and
the offender are joined by their respective families and community members or other
persons related to the crime event. In these meetings, the offender and the victim talk to
each other about the victimization, the effects it had on their lives, and their feelings
about it. The aim is to create a mutually agreeable plan to repair any damage or injury
that occurred as a result of the crime in the hopes of permanently eliminating the conflict
that caused the crime in the first place.

“Restorative Justice” is a systematic formal legal response to crime victimization that

emphasizes healing the injuries that resulted from the crime and affected the victims,
offenders and communities. This process is a departure from the traditional retributive
form of dealing with criminals and victims which traditionally have generally perpetuated
the conflict which resulted in the original crime.

“Victim Trauma” includes emotional and physical experiences that produce pain and
injuries. Emotional injury is a normal response to an extremely abnormal event. It
results from the pairing of a painful or frightening emotional experience with a specific
memory which emerge and have a longlasting effect on the life of a person. The more
direct the exposure to the traumatic event, the higher the risk for emotional harm and
prolonged effects.

“Crisis Intervention” is the provision of emergency psychological care to traumatized

victims so as to help them return to an adaptive level of functioning and to prevent or
mitigate the negative impact of psychological and emotional trauma.

“Compensation” is a formal administrative procedure provided by law which provides

only money to victims for “out of pocket” real expenses directly resulting from the
victimization to be paid by the state after the victim is found to qualify according to
specific criteria determined by the respective state or federal law.

“Restitution” is a formal judicial procedure used by a judge after guilt is determined as

part of a sentence which can provide money and/or services to the victim for damages
or suffering which resulted from the victimization to be paid or performed by the
offender.

“Victim Survey” is a periodic data collection and analysis process conducted usually by
a government entity within the general population to study information about crime
victims regardless of whether they reported their victimization to the police or not. It
typically uses a face-to-face or telephone interview (or sent questionnaire) and covers
demographics, attitudes about crime and details about the victimizations experienced
over the previous six months.
“Victim Rights” are privileges and procedures required by written law which guarantee
victims specific considerations and treatment by the criminal justice system, the
government, and the community at large.