As soon as any member of the Network becomes aware of a crime victim, a local victim support person is called. These victim support persons are able to provide immediate support, advice, and care to the victim if desired. They are well versed in Network procedures and are able to answer questions about the processes used by police or investigators. They are also available to intervene with police and investigators to assist them in avoiding “revictimization.”

If victims are in need of medical care, support persons are available to accompany victims to the hospital or meet them there if the victim wishes. If there is damage to victims’ homes or other properties, victim support people are available to assist in crime scene clean up if the victim wishes it. This may include helping make a victim’s home more secure.

Finally, victim support persons are responsible for recommending a victim advocate (see below) to the victim for help throughout the process of addressing the crime and its consequences. If necessary, they will assist the victim in contacting the victim advocate and provide that advocate with as much information about the case as possible. 

At any point in time, if the victim does not want assistance, the support person will not attempt to provide it. If no assistance is desired, victims are offered a brochure outlining assistance options and left alone.  At any point until their case is closed, victims may request appropriate assistance again.

The kinds of assistance that are offered to crime victims include the following:

1.     Material Care.

Community groups in many parts of RJ City have been organised to repair damage to homes and property. Special arrangements have been made with hardware stores to provide, at their cost, locks, glass and other equipment needed for emergencies.

2.     Physical Care.

Medical clinics throughout RJ City have agreed to provide medical services to victims who have suffered physical injury as a result of crime. If insurance or other payment is not available, the medical clinics are paid for up to six months’ treatment by the Network.

3.     Restoration Care.

Victim advocates are available to guide victims through the process of dealing with the crime and its consequences. The victim advocate is available to listen to the victim’s story, help the victim examine the options available (through cooperative as well as adjudicative processes), provide names of attorneys who could represent the victim in an adjudicative process, and accompany the victim to any proceeding. Victim advocates are fully trained in restorative justice principles, values, goals and processes.

4.     Emotional and Spiritual Care.

All primary victims are entitled to one session with a professional counsellor to discuss the effects of crime on their lives. Victims may also request a referral to a community support group or a community counselling service. When the victim advocate, counsellor from the initial session, and the facilitator or judge agree, longer-term counselling services are provided. In addition, the parties in the adjudicative or cooperative process may agree that the victim should receive additional counselling as part of the offender’s amends. In this situation, the offender or other participating parties, not the Network, pays for the counselling.

Victims may request referral to a surrogate victim program in which they might meet with an offender who has committed similar crimes as their own offender. These meetings give unrelated victims and offenders the opportunity to tell their stories, discuss the crime’s effects, and receive comfort and validation from those who were also affected by the crime.

The victim support person will ask the victim if they would like their religious leader contacted on the victim’s behalf. If the victim does not have a religious leader but seeks such counsel, the victim support person puts the victim in touch with religious and or spiritual resources of the victim’s choosing.

5.     Family Care.

The victim’s family may also need care. The victim support person can put them in touch with victim family support groups and other available services. These services are offered to the family regardless of whether the victim makes use of the support offered.

If desired, the Community-building Sphere will put the victim’s family in touch with religious and/or spiritual resources of the family’s choosing.