INTRODUCTION
The way people cope as victims of crime
depends largely on their experiences immediately following the crime. As a law
enforcement officer, you are usually the first official to approach victims.
For this reason, you are in a unique position to help victims cope with the
immediate trauma of the crime and to help restore their sense of security and
control over their lives.
Circumstances of the crime and the crime
scene determine when and how the first responding officers are able to address
victims and their needs. This publication recognizes that each crime and crime
scene is different and requires officers to prioritize their performance of
tasks in each situation. Generally, officers must attend to many tasks,
including assessing medical needs, determining facts and circumstances,
advising other personnel, and gathering and distributing suspect information.
It is helpful to keep in mind that apprehension of the suspect is the primary
duty of law enforcement and that accomplishing this task helps not only the
suspects current victims but potential victims as well. Sometimes the first
responders must delay their attendance to the victims if the situation requires.
For example, if the crime is ongoing, or if the collection of evidence or
investigation of the crime is extremely time-sensitive, first responders may
not be able to direct their immediate attention to the victims. However, as
soon as the most urgent and pressing tasks have been addressed, officers will
focus their attention on the victims and their needs. At this point, how the
officers respond to the victims, explain the competing law enforcement duties,
and work with the victims is very important.
By approaching victims appropriately,
officers will gain their trust and cooperation. Victims may then be more
willing to provide detailed information about the crime to officers and later
to investigators and prosecutors, which, in turn, will lead to the conviction
of more criminals. Remember that you are there for the victim, the victim is
not there for you.
You can help victims by understanding the
three major needs they have after a crime has been committed: the need to feel
safe; the need to express their emotions; and the need to know “what comes
next” after their victimization. The information in this handbook is designed
to show you how to meet these needs.
Tips for Responding to Victims' Three Major Needs
Victims' Need To Feel Safe
People often feel helpless, vulnerable,
and frightened by the trauma of their victimization. As the first response
officer, you can respond to victims' need to feel safe by following these
guidelines:
·
Introduce
yourself to victims by name and title. Briefly explain your role and
purpose.
·
Reassure
victims of their safety and your concern by paying close attention to your own
words, posture, mannerisms, and tone of voice. Say to victims, “You're safe
now” or “I'm here now.” Use body language to show concern, such as nodding your
head, using natural eye contact, placing yourself at the victim's level rather
than standing over seated victims, keeping an open stance rather than crossing
your arms, and speaking in a calm, sympathetic voice.
·
Ask
victims to tell you in just a sentence or two what happened. Ask if they have
any physical injuries. Take care of their medical needs first.
·
Offer
to contact a family member, friend, or crisis counselor for victims.
·
Ensure
privacy during your interview. Conduct it in a place where victims feel secure.
·
Ask
simple questions that allow victims to make decisions, assert themselves, and
regain control over their lives. Examples: “Would you like anything to drink?”;
“May I come inside and talk with you?”; and “How would you like me to address
you, Ms. Jones?”
·
Assure
victims of the confidentiality of their comments whenever possible.
·
Ask
victims about any special concerns or needs they may have.
·
Provide
a “safety net” for victims before leaving them. Make telephone calls and pull
together personal or professional support for the victims. Give victims a
pamphlet listing resources available for help or information. This pamphlet
should include contact information for local crisis intervention centers and
support groups; the prosecutor's office and the victim-witness assistance
office; the State victim compensation/assistance office; and other nationwide
services, including toll-free hotlines.
·
Give
victim's—in writing—your name and information on how to reach you. Encourage
them to contact you if they have any questions or if you can be of further
help.
Victims' Need To Express Their Emotions
Victims need to air their emotions and
tell their story after the trauma of the crime. They need to have their
feelings accepted and have their story heard by a nonjudgmental listener. In
addition to fear, they may 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, perhaps even at law enforcement
officers for not arriving at the scene of the crime sooner. You can respond to
victims' need to express their emotions by following these guidelines:
·
Avoid
cutting off victims' expression of their emotions.
·
Notice
victims' body language, such as their posture, facial expression, tone of
voice, gestures, eye contact, and general appearance. This can help you
understand and respond to what they are feeling as well as what they are
saying.
·
Assure
victims that their emotional reactions to the crime are not uncommon.
Sympathize with the victims by saying things such as: “You've been through
something very frightening. I'm sorry”; “What you' re feeling is completely
normal”; and “This was a terrible crime. I'm sorry it happened to you.”
·
Counter
any self-blame by victims by saying things such as, “You didn't do anything
wrong. This was not your fault.”
·
Speak
with victims as individuals. Do not just “take a report.” Sit down, take off
your hat, and place your notepad aside momentarily. Ask victims how they are
feeling now and listen.
·
Say
to victims, “I want to hear the whole story, everything you can remember, even
if you don't think it's important.”
·
Ask
open-ended questions. Avoid questions that can be answered by “yes” or “no.”
Ask questions such as “Can you tell me what happened?” or “Is there anything
else you can tell me?”
·
Show
that you are actively listening to victims through your facial expressions,
body language, and comments such as “Take your time; I'm listening” and “We can
take a break if you like. I'm in no hurry.”
·
Avoid
interrupting victims while they are telling their story.
·
Repeat
or rephrase what you think you heard the victims say. For example, “Let's see
if I understood you correctly. Did you say. . .?”; “So, as I understand it, . .
.”; or “Are you saying. . . ?”
Victims' Need To Know “What Comes Next” After Their
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. You can help relieve some of their anxiety by telling
victims what to expect in the aftermath of the crime. This will also help
prepare them for upcoming stressful events and changes in their lives. You can
respond to victims' need to know about what comes next after their
victimization by following these guidelines:
·
Briefly
explain law enforcement procedures for tasks such as the filing of your report,
the investigation of the crime, and the arrest and arraignment of a suspect.
·
Tell
victims about subsequent law enforcement interviews or other kinds of
interviews they can expect.
·
Discuss
the general nature of medical forensic examinations the victim will be asked to
undergo and the importance of these examinations for law enforcement.
·
Explain
what specific information from the crime report will be available to news
organizations. Discuss the likelihood of the media releasing any of this
information.
·
Counsel
victims that lapses of concentration, memory losses, depression, and physical
ailments are normal reactions for crime victims. Encourage them to reestablish
their normal routines as quickly as possible to help speed their recovery.
Give victims a pamphlet listing
resources available for help and information. This pamphlet should include
contact information for local crisis intervention centers and support groups;
the prosecutor's office and the victim-witness assistance office; the State
victim compensation/assistance office; and other nationwide services, including
toll-free hotlines.
Ask victims whether they have any questions. Encourage
victims to contact you if you can be of further assistance.
WAY OF RESPONSES
DESIRE FOR PUNISHMENT
It
is a difficult subject to undertake, mainly because not all crimes are the
same. It is clear that stealing sweets in a shop is not as severe as
someone committing murder or sexual assault. But the way of dealing with such crimes,
whatever they are, are dealt with in a similar manner. It essentially boils
down to one question; punishment or rehabilitation? The problem is intensified
by the views and feelings not only of the victim(s), but their family and
friends too.
It
is often the case that those affected simply want retribution. Whether
it be a shopkeeper who experienced petty theft or an individual who was
attacked and beaten, they want the culprit(s) to be punished for what they did.
The case of James Bulger illustrates this. Bulger was tortured and killed by
two boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in 1993. The desire for punishment
was shown by James' father, Ralph, who desired to "hunt down his
son's killers" as stated in the Guardian newspaper. However, this response
is not always the right one.
CHANGE THROUGH REHABILITATION
So to return to the question posed above, what is the
number one priority for a civilised society? It is, I believe, to ensure a safe
and secure environment. But how is that best achieved? Whilst the majority
feels that safety is secured by punishment, I disagree.
I
believe that a secure society is only achieved through the culprit learning
from their mistakes, accepting what they did was wrong, and thus not doing
it again. That, I state, is only really possible through Rehabilitation.
THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND
I
do not disagree that prison
is important. For those who have committed the same crime more than once, and
show no signs of learning, then being in #Prison is the most appropriate course
of action. I do also believe that in the short term prison may be the best
place for culprits, mainly because it removes them off the streets where they
can no longer cause harm. But in the long term, I feel that those who committ
crimes deserve the help needed to enable them to change. What is key in
assessing the appropriate response to crime is the background of the culprit.
The case concerning the professional footballer Jake Livermore demonstrates
this. In April 2015, as reported in the Daily Mail, Livermore tested positive
for cocaine. Now, as with most sportsmen who fail a drugs test, the appropriate
response is a fine and a substantial ban.
However,
this never materialised, primarily due to the background to the cocaine use.It
emerged that Livermore turned to drugs as he tried to cope with "the death
of his new-born son". As a result, the Football Association decided not to
ban the player.
As
demonstrated, it is often the case that the one who commits the crime has
experienced pain or suffering of his/her own previously. They may have had a
father who was abusive, they may have been bullied at school or witnessed the
death of a close family member. The point is, is that there are always reasons
as to why someone does something. I also do not accept the rationale that
somebody commits a crime simply because they are evil. I do believe that evil
acts are committed but it does not mean that they cannot change. Returning to
the James Bulger case, at the trial the judge, Mr. Justice Morland stated that
Venables and Thompson were guilty of an "act of unparalled evil".
Although
it should not excuse the terrible pain and suffering inflicted on the victim
and their families, we must still search through the layers of the
culprit, for whatever crime committed, try to understand why they did it and
hope that they can change. This I believe, can only occur
through education and therapy; in essence, rehabilitation.
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