Zrtve kriminaliteta, emocionalna reakcija i proces oporavka

Abstract

The article is based on the experiences of the European services that provide assistance for the victims of criminality. It describes characteristics of the emotional reactions and recovery process of both the victim and his/her surrounding. Some factors of risk are explored that make certain categories of people especially vulnerable after the criminal incident. A crime victim may have certain difficulties in dealing with the unpleasant experience in cases when he/she is hurt on purpose, intentionally by another person. As a result of that many victims lose the sense of interior control over the things that happen to them, lose self-respect, faith in other people and the community. Therefore, the task of the whole community is to actively contribute to the process of victim's recovery and restitution of self-confidence as well as the confidence in other people and institutions that provide protection and aid.