Oct’05
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.
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.
, Oct’05
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
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.
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.
, Oct’05
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
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.
