To deepen understanding of crime victims

Many people think about crime damage, such as "irrelevant to yourself" or "it should not happen to yourself."
But one day, it can happen to anyone who suddenly gets involved in a crime or accident, loses or is injured.

Crime damage confronts not only the damage caused by the crime itself, but also various problems (secondary damage) due to the damage. It also takes a long time to recover from damage.

Think about it once as our problem about getting a crime victim.

Yokohama City is also working to increase the understanding of the problems and emotions of victims, their families, bereaved families, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "victims, etc."), and gradually expand the circle of support.

Humans can't deal with things that are too sudden and unforeseen. As a result, your body and mind will not move.

As a result, people around you may look frightened, or conversely look cool and calm. Also, your memory may be ambiguous or you may not be able to understand the story.

These mental and physical disorders have been experienced by many people who have suffered crime.

Even after the shock immediately after the damage calms down, some people continue to have mental or physical disorders. If it lasts longer, it is necessary to consider consulting a medical institution such as Psychiatry.

• Difficulty in work or school

Mental and physical damage can lead to problems such as increased small mistakes in work and study, reduced efficiency, and poor relationships with colleagues at work and school friends.

• Unwilling relocation and housing problems

If your home becomes the site of the incident, you may have unbearable mental distress due to rumors in the neighborhood, or if there is a risk of re-damage, you may need to relocate or have a place of residence other than your home. There is.

• Economic problems

Income may be cut off and financially distressed, such as when a livelihood maintainer is lost due to a crime damage, or when it becomes difficult for a livelihood maintainer to work due to injury or mental shock due to a crime.

Immediately after the damage, taxis for rushing to police and hospitals, immediate expenses such as funeral expenses in the event of death, and expenses for treatment will be incurred. In addition, long-term care or nursing care may be financially burdened in the future.

In addition, expenses for litigation (transportation expenses, copy of litigation records, lawyer expenses, etc.) will also be a heavy burden.

Even if you win in a civil trial relating to a claim for damages, if the perpetrator is not capable of paying, you may not be able to receive damages and you may not be able to receive any compensation.

• Changes in family relationships

Not only the victim of the crime, but also their families tend to be shocked and lose the mental margin of supporting each other.

In addition, the way each family feels stressed, how they perceive and think about damage, and the way they express emotions and how to deal with them are different, so there is no problem in the family or face a domestic crisis. It is not uncommon.

If the crime victim is a child and has a sibling, parents may not be able to afford enough affection to the sibling, which may later affect the sibling.

It is very hurt if people around you are slandered or interested questions, rumors that are different from the facts, or if they are told that there was something fault on the victim side.

Even though it is not a civil trial that only seeks money, incorrect views such as "I want money" can further hurt the victims.

If you come into contact with situations such as "no apology from the perpetrator at all", "the perpetrator does not see a reflection attitude", and "the perpetrator claims to escape liability in court", the pain of the victims etc. will be even greater. Will be

In addition, many victims live with anxiety and fear that harm such as retaliation from perpetrators may be caused.

In investigations and trials, I have to explain the case many times, so each time I feel painful to remember the case.

In addition, police and prosecutors are forced to pay time and physical burdens for investigations, hearing of trials, testimony, statements, etc. In addition, they are placed in courts that are unfamiliar with criminal trials, and sometimes perpetrators' lawyers You may be forced to impose a mental burden, such as being told by the lawyer that there is a problem with the victim.

In civil trials relating to claims for damages, we often face many difficulties, such as litigation costs, labor, and time burdens.

[Reference] Created by the Cabinet Office Crime Victims Policy Promotion Office "Criminal Victim Support Handbook Model Draft"

Among secondary damages, curiosity eyes and prying about incidents and accidents from people around you hurt the victims most.

Here, let's think together about the feelings and considerations of those who have suffered crimes based on specific conversation examples.

◆Consider the victim's position, and if you can't find words, quietly snuggle up close and watch.◆

The situation in which victims are placed differs from person to person. Recovery from damage is not easy. The victims are very vulnerable because their hearts are weak, and people around them often do not know what to do. You may not be able to understand unless you are a party.

But you might be able to do something too.

In order to isolate the victims and not to suffer alone, taking the problems faced by the victims and trying to understand the feelings of the victims can also help.

And if you find out that you are actually in trouble, do what you can do and what you can help a little. There are a lot of things that can help you with casual things in your daily life.

However, what you want to do and what the victim wants may be different. At that time, do not impose your feelings and respect the other person's feelings.

Every year from November 25 to December 1 is the Crime Victims Week.

During the Crime Victims Week, through the implementation of intensive awareness-raising projects during this period, the public will discuss the situation where crime victims are placed, the honor of crime victims, etc., or the importance of consideration for peace of life. The purpose is to deepen your understanding.

In Yokohama City, in addition to conducting publicity activities during the Crime Victims Week, we also widely educate citizens through lectures and other events. .