About the 

agencies that 

created this DVD 

and brochure . . .

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was

established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act

to oversee diverse programs that benefit 

victims of crime. OVC provides substantial

funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs—the lifeline services

that help victims to heal. The agency also

supports trainings designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals regarding the rights and needs of crime victims.

OVC is one of five component bureaus and

one program office in the Office of Justice

Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

The National Crime Victims Research and

Treatment Center (NCVRTC) is part of the

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral

Sciences at the Medical University of South

Carolina. NCVRTC has provided quality care

for victims of crime since 1977. In addition to

direct clinical services, NCVRTC is nationally

and internationally known for its research

productivity in the areas of crime victims’ 

epidemiology, assessment, and treatment.

NCVRTC faculty actively participate in both

the development and evaluation of crime

victim public policy.

This document was prepared

by the National Crime Victims

Research and Treatment Center

under grant 1998–VF–GX–0006

awarded by the Office for Victims

of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations

expressed in this document are

those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the official

position of the U.S. Department

of Justice.

*BC000728* 

Office of Justice Programs

Partnerships for 

Safer Communities

www.ojp.usdoj.gov 

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office for Victims of Crime

This brochure was created to

accompany the DVD entitled

Recovering From Your CrimeRelated Injuries. Both the DVD

and this brochure were developed by the National Crime

Victims Research and Treatment

Center with funding provided

by the Office for Victims of Crime.

Both a closed­captioned and

Spanish version of this DVD are

also available.

RECOVERING

FROM

CRIME:  CRIME:  Steps

for the 

Physically

Injured 

Victim
RECOVERING FROM CRIME

STEP 1: Heal Your Injuries

While in the hospital, and when you are discharged,

your injuries can be painful reminders of the crime.

Remember, be patient and easy on yourself. Give

yourself credit for each small accomplishment. Ask

your doctors questions about your health care. Most

important, remember you are not at fault.

STEP 2: Apply for Crime

Victim Compensation

You may be eligible for compensation for crimerelated medical and mental health costs and for 

lost wages. It is crucial that you cooperate with the 

police, prosecutors, and crime victim compensation

STEP 3: Understand Your Rights

❒ You have the right to protection from 

intimidation, harassment, and harm. If 

you feel threatened, call the police immediately.

❒ You have the right

to be informed Criminal Justice

about your case, Terms You May Hear including being

informed of bail, Grand Jury—a panel of

individuals who recom­ prison release, and mend whether to hold

trial or hearing a trial based on the

dates. evidence.

❒ You have the right Indictment—charges

to be present dur­ brought against a perpetrator after a grand jury ing bond hearings hearing.

and trials.

Bond Hearing—deter­

❒ You have the right mines whether and how

to comment on much bail should be set. 

plea bargains.

STEP 4: Recognize Your Feelings

After a crime, you may experience the 

following:

❒ Fear, anxiety, nervousness, jumpiness, 

trembling.

❒ Sweating, racing heart, shortness of breath.

STEP 5: Deal With Your Feelings

Here are some things you can do about these negative feelings and emotions:

❒ Do not avoid situations just because of fear and

anxiety. 

❒ Try to go out or do things with others. Go back

to work if possible.

❒ Fight urges to use drugs or alcohol to calm down

or feel better—pay attention to people and places

that trigger urges and stay away from them.

❒ Keep busy. Your best weapon against becoming

sad or depressed is keeping active. 

❒ Make yourself get out of bed in the morning.

❒ Plan your day the night before. 

❒ Ask others for help. They are there for you. 

authorities in order to get this financial assistance. ❒ Nightmares and upsetting thoughts.

Remember to fill out your paperwork on time. If ❒ Avoidance and withdrawing from life and others. Crime victims may be eligible for

your request for compensation is denied, you may crime victim compensation and Remember, these are normal feelings to have after appeal the decision. assistance. To access compensa­ a traumatic event. tion and assistance information

for your state, call ____­____­_______.