Title: Assault Victimization
Series: Help Series Brochure
Author: Office for Victims of Crime
Published: February 2002
Subject: victims, victim assistance, assault
5 pages
7,944 bytes

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OVC Help Series

Assault Victimization

Office for Victims of Crime
OVC
Advocating for the Fair Treatment of Crime Victims

The National Center for Victims of Crime

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What is assault?

There are two types of assault: aggravated and simple. Aggravated assault
is an unlawful attack on another person for the purpose of causing severe
physical injury. It is usually called aggravated when it includes use of a
weapon or some other means that could cause death or serious physical
harm to the victim. A person can be convicted of aggravated assault even
if the victim was not physically harmed. Simple assault is the attempt or
threat to inflict less serious physical injury without a weapon.

Assault is the most common violent crime in the United States.

--from Criminal Victimization in the United States 2000. Washington,
DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2001

The number of assaults is much higher than the number of homicides in
the United States. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, one
aggravated assault occurred every 29 seconds in 1995. Unlike other
violent crimes, assaults are committed almost equally by strangers and
nonstrangers, which means that many victims know their attackers.
Almost one out of every four assaults occurs in the victim's home; at a
relative's, friend's, or neighbor's home; or on the street near the victim's
home.


Assaults on juveniles have nearly doubled during the past few years.
Teenage victims of violent assaults are more likely than adult victims to
report that the offender is someone they know. Many juvenile assault
victims say the first assault they remember was in their homes. The
attackers generally have been family members, friends, or acquaintances.

In aggravated assault, the threat of serious physical injury and possible
death is substantial. Even when assault victims do not sustain extensive
injury or loss, they are forced to suffer threats of violence and 
physical harm at the hands of their assailants.

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If You Are an Assault Survivor

An assault is a violent, life-threatening situation. When you were
assaulted, you faced death. Even if you were not seriously or permanently
injured during the assault, you had to deal with the possibility of death and
fears of leaving loved ones behind. These and other aspects of the assault
can have a great emotional impact on you, immediately and in the long
term.

You may have many feelings about, thoughts about, and reactions to what
has happened-from shock that this could happen to guilt about not being 
able to prevent it. You may feel that others believe the crime was
somehow your fault. You also may feel humiliated or rejected by family
members or acquaintances.

No one has the right to assault another person, regardless of how angry the
attacker is or whether the attacker feels the victim has somehow wronged
him or her. Even if you knew your attacker, the assault was not your fault.

You may feel angry at the attacker or the police and court system for not
doing enough about the assault. You may be fearful that you could be
assaulted again. You may have nightmares or flashbacks about the assault.
You may find that you startle more easily at little noises or abrupt
movements. You also may be disturbed by new feelings of vulnerability
and loss of control similar to what you felt during the assault.

How victims react to assault varies from person to person. Your reaction
may be immediate or delayed. Although you may feel as if you are the
only one experiencing these feelings-and that no one else understands
what you are going through-your reactions are normal. Some feelings may
subside within a few days, while others may continue for some time or
resurface after being triggered by another event. It is important for you to
deal with your emotions at your own pace and in your own way. Just as
everyone reacts to a crisis differently, not everyone copes with the 
consequences of crisis in the same way or within the same timeframe.

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Where can you get help?

Remember, as an assault victim, you are not alone. Your community may
have victim assistance programs, caring professionals, and support
groups-all of which are there to help you by providing assistance,
information, services, and referrals. Social services programs and trained
professionals also can help you find out about crime victim rights in your
state.

If the assault involved an injury or threat of injury, you may be eligible for
reimbursement by your state's crime victim compensation program for
certain out-of-pocket expenses, such as medical or counseling expenses
and lost wages. To be eligible for these funds, you must report the assault
to the police and cooperate with the criminal justice system. Victim
assistance programs in your community can provide compensation
applications and additional information.

It is important to keep a record of expenses you incur as a result of the
assault. If the attacker is arrested and convicted, you may request
restitution by completing a victim impact statement and listing your losses
and expected future expenses (such as necessary medical treatment).
Restitution for certain losses may be ordered by a judge as part of the
sentence imposed on the attacker. However, in many cases, the defendant
may not have sufficient assets or income to pay restitution. It is possible
that even if an offender is convicted and ordered to pay restitution, you
may receive no, or only partial, restitution for your losses.

Whether you have been assaulted by a stranger or someone you know, the
best way to ensure your safety is to report the incident to local law
enforcement immediately. Of course, the decision to report an assault is
always yours.

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What are the facts about assault?

o In 1999, there were an estimated 916,383 incidents of aggravated
assault, accounting for 64 percent of the violent crime in the United States.
(Crime in the United States 1999. Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of
Investigation, 2000)

o In 1999, there were an estimated 4.7 million simple assaults in the
United States. (Criminal Victimization in the United States 1999.
Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000)

o Dangerous weapons (excluding knives and firearms), such as clubs or
other blunt objects, were used during 35 percent of all aggravated assaults
in 1999. (Crime in the United States 1999. Washington, DC: Federal
Bureau of Investigation, 2000)

o In 1999, fewer than 5 out of 10 aggravated assault victims knew their
offenders as an acquaintance, friend, relative, or intimate partner.
(Criminal Victimization in the United States 1999. Washington, DC:
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000)

o Juveniles constitute 19 percent of all aggravated assault victims and 19
percent of all simple assault victims. Simple assault is the most common
crime committed against juveniles, constituting 41 percent of all offenses
against juveniles known to police. (Characteristics of Crimes Against
Juveniles. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, 2000)

o The 1996 National Crime Victimization Survey found that 14 percent of
all assaults occur in the home; 7 percent occur at a friend's, relative's, or
neighbor's home; and 3 percent occur on the street near the victim's home.
(Criminal Victimization in the United States 1999. Washington, DC:
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2000)

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Resources for Information and Assistance

National Center for Victims of Crime
1-800-FYI-CALL or 1-800-394-2255
www.ncvc.org

National Organization for Victim Assistance
1-800-TRY-NOVA or 1-800-879-6682
www.try-nova.org

Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center 1-800-627-6872
TTY 1-877-712-9279
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ovcres/welcome.html


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This brochure was developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime
under a project supported by Grant No. 97-VF-GX-K007 awarded by the
Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department
of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do
not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S.
Department of Justice.