A victim is someone who has suffered from an unlawful act, whether a personal or a property crime. Sometimes the individual can be revictimized when the criminal justice or social service system does not provide the victim with equitable and compassionate treatment. The individual, suffering the effects of the original crime, may well lack the resources to recover from the new assault. At minimum, the pain and loss created by the new victimization will cause further problems that must be dealt with. How to enhance your working relationships with children and youth to encourage them to report appropriately to you Young people are victims of all types of crimes and all kinds of people.
Some crime is intrafamilial.
Some crimes are committed by peers. Some involve an offender who is a stranger to the victim. Some are crimes against the person, some against property. Crimes that involve drugs and those that involve child abuse get special mention here because of their direct relevance to youth. This handbook is only a guide.