Victims’ needs as basic human needs1

Abstract

The authors report a systematic review of 33 empirical studies into the needs of victims of crime. They were especially interested in differences in needs between groups of victims, like differences for type of crime, gender and ethnic background. The needs were interpreted against the background of basic human needs theories. The expressed victims’ needs seem to occur among victims of crimes across the entire spectrum, and this appears to be particularly true for the need for information and for financial needs. However, the surviving relatives of victims of homicides and victims of violence (including victims of domestic and/or sexual violence committed by a known offender, in particular) were found to have specific needs. With regard to the correlation between needs and the variables gender, ethnic origin and the question of whether or not a person is a repeat victim, the most striking finding is that very few results were found. More victims of violent crimes than victims of crimes against property report ‘basic needs’ (in terms of the human needs theories) in the ‘safety’ category. In this category there are also more people with a need for a court decision. For victims of crimes against property, the ‘non-basic needs’, such as practical needs and the need for financial restoration, play a role more frequently.