The National Center for Victims of Crime believes justice requires not only that we hold offenders accountable for the harm they have caused, but that we accept responsibility for helping victims rebuild their lives. Every 21 seconds, a crime is committed in the United States. Every victim needs our help. Almost 30 million people in America are victimized be crime each year.
Crimes violate communal norms.
When offenders are brought to the bar of justice, the state holds them accountable. We hold you responsible. We will punish you if appropriate, isolate you if necessary, require you to repay your victims, and help reintegrate you into the community. Each crime creates an offender and a victim. But the state makes no comparable promise to the individuals who have been harmed.