Chapter 3: THE IMPACT OF CRIME ON VICTIMS

PARTICIPANT TEXTMarch 2010 National Victim Assistance Academy Track 1: Foundation-Level TrainingMost people print off a copy of the post test and circle the answers as theyread through the materials. Then, you can log in, go to "My Account" andunder "Courses I Need to Take" click on the blue "Enter Answers" button.After completing the post test, you can print your certificate.CHAPTER 6IMPACT OF CRIME ON VICTIMSEidell Wasserman and Carroll Ann Ellis1The trauma of victimization can have a profoundand devastating impact on crime victims and theirloved ones. It can alter the victim’s view of theworld as a just place and leave victims with newand difficult feelings and reactions that they maynot understand. It is important for victimassistance professionals to understand thedifferent ways that crime can affect victims—psychologically, financially, physically andspiritually. Any discussion of the impact of crimeon victims is necessarily general in scope. Thefollowing information is offered to help victimassistance professionals to be aware of thecommon types of reactions that victimsexperience, and should be used as generalguidelines to provide direction and references foradditional resources.NVAA Module 6Learning Objectives Identify primary and secondaryvictims of crime. Recognize factors that influencea victim’s ability to cope. Identify symptoms of trauma thatvictims may have in the immediate,short-term, and long-term periodsfollowing victimization. Discuss possible physical,psychological/emotional, financial,and spiritual effects of crime onvictims.Crime has significant, yet varying consequences,on individual crime victims, their families and friends, and communities. The impact ofcrime on victims results in emotional and psychological, physical, financial, social andspiritual consequences. While there are no consistent findings about victims’ challengesin coping with the aftermath of criminal victimization with respect to demographiccharacteristics, a victim’s ability to cope with the impact of crime depends on a variety offactors (National Institute of Mental Health, 2006): A history of victimization increases trauma following a new crime.1Authors of this chapter are Eidell Wasserman, Ph.D., Sebastopol, CA; and Carroll Ann Ellis, J.D.,Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax, VAChapter 6: Impact of Crime on Victims6-1

PARTICIPANT TEXTMarch 2010 National Victim Assistance Academy Track 1: Foundation-Level Training A history of mental health problems increases trauma following a new crime,particularly a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. A higher degree of threat to life and physical injury increases the risk of difficulty incoping. Generally, violent crime victims have a more difficult time coping than propertycrime victims. Research also indicates two key post-victimization factors that can increase thelikelihood of victims to develop mental health problems: A lack of or poor social support systems. The degree of exposure to the justice system.The incidence of violent crime in the United States decreased from 1994 to 2004 (U.S.Department of Justice, 2006); however, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports(2006), violent crime increased in 2005. Rape was the only violent crime that showed adecrease. Americans are still concerned about becoming crime victims. Americans’ fearof becoming a victim of a crime affects more people than crime itself (Warr, 2000).According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2004: About 14 percent of households in the United States (16 million households)experienced one or more property crimes or had a member age 12 or older whoexperienced one or more violent crimes. About one in 250 households included a member victimized by an intimate partner,such as a spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. About 5 percent of households had at least one incident of vandalism. Over 5.6million households were vandalized during this period (Klaus, 2006).Recent research has shown that Native Americans and Alaska Natives are victims ofviolent crime more often than members of any other group. American Indiansexperienced a per capita rate of violence twice that of the U.S. resident population. Onaverage, American Indians experienced an estimated one violent crime for every 10residents age 12 or older (Perry, 2004).As the field of victim services has evolved, so has understanding of the multidimensionalimpact of crime on victims, their families, and their communities. Victims of eitherviolent or nonviolent crimes can face a multitude of challenges as the result of theirvictimization. Crime affects victims and their families on a variety of levels: physical,physiological, behavioral, emotional, cognitive, financial, social, and spiritual. Victimassistance programs may offer resources to deal with many or all of these issues.6-2Chapter 6: Impact of Crime on Victims

PARTICIPANT TEXTNational Victim Assistance Academy V Track 1: Foundation-Level TrainingVictim service providers need to: Understand the dynamics of trauma and the vital role victim service providers have intrauma response and victims’ rights advocacy. Remember that every victim is unique. Never make assumptions concerning how a victim will react. Recognize that a person’s reaction to victimization will be influenced by a variety offactors. Try to identify the specific needs of individual victims and develop a plan to meetthem. Know and use the wide range of community, cultural, and justice system resources tomeet the myriad needs of victims. Become familiar with the culture and traditions of the populations being served.The impact of crime is frequently described through the results of research studies.Participants in these studies often are people who have sought services from agencies (forexample, victim assistance agencies, social services, and hospitals) or who are involvedin the criminal justice system. Research allows us to present information in easilyunderstood numerical terms. The impact of crime is not easily understood or quantifiable,however. Many cultures and groups have a more experiential approach to human eventsand do not find empirical approaches helpful. This chapter focuses on the moremainstream empirically based approach. Students are encouraged to think beyond thenumbers and research results and develop an awareness of the multilayered impact ofcrime, as well as the individual, highly personal meaning that victims, their families, andtheir communities attach to crime victimization.Who is Affected by Crime?Everyone is affected by crime, either as a direct victim or a friend or family member of avictim. Even individuals who are not direct victims of crime can be negatively affected ina variety of ways, such as developing an increased fear of crime or experiencing thefinancial impact of crime (e.g., higher insurance rates, lost work days). While primaryvictims of crime might be identified easily, secondary victims such as family and clanmembers may not be so readily identifiable and may not receive needed services.Identifying services offered for neighborhoods and communities can be even moredifficult.Another group affected by crime is first responders—the people who typically are first onthe scene or first to respond to crime, including police officers, firefighters, andChapter 6: Impact of Crime on Victims6-3

PARTICIPANT TEXTMarch 2010 National Victim Assistance Academy Track 1: Foundation-Level Trainingemergency medical technicians. A vivid example of the impact of crime on firstresponders involves those who responded to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.Descriptions of stepping through or on body parts while trying to find survivors illustratethe experiences that can cause long-term trauma to first responders. However, crimesneed not have devastating, large-scale impact to affect those who respond. An officerinterviewing a child sexual abuse victim may be reminded of her or his own child of thesame gender and age.The term “trauma” often is used to describe the experience of crime victims. Traumarefers to both a medical and a psychiatric condition. “Medically, ‘trauma’ refers to aserious or critical bodily injury, wound, or shock. Psychiatrically, ‘trauma’ has assumed adifferent meaning and refers to an experience that is emotionally painful, distressful, orshocking, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects” (National Institute ofMental Health, 2006, p. 2).Potential Victim Reactions in the Aftermath of CrimeImmediate and Short-term Trauma Reactions1Short-term trauma occurs during or immediately after the crime and lasts for about 3months (Kilpatrick, 2000). This time frame for short-term versus long-term trauma isbased on several studies showing that most crime victims achieve considerable recoverysometime between 1 and 3 months after the crime. Some common responses to traumainclude the following: Few crime victims are anticipating a violent assault as the crime occurs, so most areshocked, surprised, and terrified when it happens. Crime victims often have feelings of unreality when an assault occurs and think,“This can’t be happening to me.” People who have been victimized in the past are at greater risk of developingemotional problems than newly victimized individuals. Victims do not “get used toit.” Many victims of violent crime describe experiencing extremely high levels ofphysiological anxiety, including rapid heart rate, hyperventilation, and stomachdistress. Crime victims often experience cognitive symptoms of anxiety, including feelingterrified, helpless, guilty, or out of control.6-4Chapter 6: Impact of Crime on Victims

PARTICIPANT TEXTNational Victim Assistance Academy V Track 1: Foundation-Level TrainingSuch physiological and emotional reactions are normal “flight or fight” responses thatoccur in dangerous situations. In the days, weeks, and first 2 or 3 months after the crime,most victims of violent crime continue to have high levels of fear, anxiety, andgeneralized distress. The following are examples of distress that may disrupt crimevictims’ ability to perform simple mental activities requiring concentration: They are preoccupied with the crime; they think about it a great deal, talk about it, orhave flashbacks and bad dreams about it. They are often concerned about their safety from attack and about the safety of theirfamily members. They are concerned that other people will not believe them or will think that theywere to blame for what happened. Many victims also experience negative changes in their belief systems and no longerthink that the world is a safe place where they can trust other people. For victims of some crimes, such as child abuse or domestic violence, the traumaoccurs many times over a period of weeks, months, or even years. Victims in suchcases often experience the compounded traumatic effects of having to always worryabout when the next attack will occur.Long-term Trauma ReactionsMost victims of crime are able to cope with the trauma of victimization. This is especiallytrue of those who receive counseling, other supportive services, and/or information aboutjustice processes and their relevant rights. However, if victim trauma is neither identifiednor addressed with mental health assistance, the initial and short-term trauma reactionscan exacerbate and turn into long-term trauma reactions, including: Major depression. Thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. Use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Ongoing problems with relationships. Anxiety disorders. A changing view of the world as a safe place. Increased risk of further victimization.Chapter 6: Impact of Crime on Victims6-5