You have been the victim of a crime. No matter what led to the crime, it's not your fault. The person who committed the crime (the offender) is at fault. It's common to feel many strong emotions, such as shock, embarrassment, fear, depression, blame, guilt, shame, or anger. For a while, you may not be able to think clearly. You likely have strong emotions about what happened to you. Here's what to do next.
Report the crime
If the crime has not already been reported to the police, report it as soon as possible. If you need support to do this, ask a trusted family member or friend to be with you. When you talk to the police:
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Give as much detail as possible. Write down everything you can remember. Do this as soon as possible. Include whatever details you can of the person or people who did it. Include gender, age, height, weight, and clothing. Also include other things that you remember such as beard, scars, or tattoos.
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Get the police officer’s name, badge number, and business card. Write the case number on the card. Keep this in a safe place.
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If you think the crime was based on bias, such as race or gender, urge the officer to report it as "hate-bias motivation" on the police report.
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Make sure the officer files an incident report form and assigns a case number. If a police report isn't taken at the time of the incident, go to the station and ask for one. Always get your own copy of the report.
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Ask that the police let you know if they make an arrest or when the case goes to the prosecutor’s or district attorney’s office.
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Find out if there is a victim assistance or advocate program in your community. Such a program can give you information about your rights, the prosecution process, how to get money for damages, and other support services.
Keep records
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Keep a record of the crime. Include the date, time, and place along with names of the offender(s) and any witnesses.
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Write down the names of the police officers involved in the case and the case number. Also write down the prosecutor assigned to the case, the victim advocate, and any other people or programs that you are referred to.
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To get money for damages, save receipts for medical treatment and mileage to go to the hospital, police, or courthouse. Keep a record of stolen or damaged property. Also keep track of the time you take off work to deal with any aspect of the crime.
Stay safe
If you are scared that the offender may harm you again, ask the police about steps you should take to stay safe. Ask that you be told when the offender is arrested or when they are released from jail. Some communities have shelters for victims of domestic violence that offer short-term housing. The location of these shelters is kept secret to protect the people who need them. Ask the police or the victims advocate for shelter telephone numbers. Be sure to keep them where your partner can't find them.
If you are a victim of domestic violence and are still in a violent situation, put together an emergency escape kit and keep it in a safe place outside your home. This kit might contain:
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Identification (Social Security numbers, birth certificates, photo ID, passports, visa).
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Important documents (marriage license, divorce papers, custody papers, health insurance).
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Extra keys (car, home, safety deposit box).
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Telephone numbers and addresses (shelters, police, family and friends).
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Cash.
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A one-month supply of medicines.
Get help
Don’t isolate yourself. Extra support at this time is important. You may prefer to stay with family or a friend for emotional support and to help you feel safe. If family and friends cause you more stress even if they don't mean to, ask the victim's advocate for the name of a crisis counselor. Short-term emotional support can be very helpful.
Resources
Find out about local resources or refer to the links below for more information:
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National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) at www.victimsofcrime.org . Offers victim services, referrals, articles on victim’s issues, and other resources.
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National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) at www.trynova.org or 800-879-6682. Has articles on victim’s issues, provides victim assistance, and coordinates the National Crime Victim Information and Referral Hotline.
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National Domestic Violence Hotline at www.thehotline.org or 800-799-7233 (TTY 800-787-3224) or text "START" to 88788. Offers 24/7 support and local shelter referrals in over 170 languages.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at www.fbi.gov/resources/victim-services . Offers resources.
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National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs at avp.org/get-help/call-our-hotline/
