Common
:tim Assistance can provide
teens and parents with: Douglas County
Reactions of
Sheriff's Office
Victims:
Information on crime victims'
Victim Assistance
rights and services available to
• Feeling hopeless about whether or not those who have experienced
•
something can be done
Feeling anxious
victimization.
Safety planning for ideas to
Teen Victims
•
•
Feeling angry
Feeling sad or dep ressed
keep safe.
Information on what to expect
Of Crime
• Fear of being hurt again at different points during the
investigative process.
• Feeling ashamed
• Wantin to hurt yourself or someone • Advocacy and accompaniment
during legal proceedings.
else
• Blaming yourself for what happened • Referrals to other commun ity
agencies for additional
• Worrying about your privacy
resources and for long-term
• Having troub le sleeping support.
• Feeling sick to your stomach
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• Not wanting to eat ~;..'.I~[}t:C3 ,~3#i"ttl',O-lJ.::1JUj1sD ~lAJlJlj.5'::-Jj ,
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• Feeling like you have no fri ends
UNDERSTANDING
• Being afraid to go out
If you are feeling some of these
VICTIMIZATION
ways, you shou ld know that you AND HOW TO GET
are not alone and help and sup HELP
port are available.
You Are •••
• Teens are more often vic a
Teens who have been hurt by crime may tell
tims of crime than adults. trusted friends about the victimization, but fault that someone hurt you.
they often avoid or delay in telling adults
• Approximately, 1 in 5 teens about such traumatic experiences. Some of
• Can get support to be safe.
these reasons include:
is a victim of violent crime.
:-• Although Fear of consequences: You may believe
• Start the process of feeling
bette r.
that disclosing victim izat ion will only
teens are make things worse.
• Have a better chance of
only 14% of Shame: Fear of others' reactions is a
leading reason that youth delay in healing and getting your life
the U.S. getting help.
Trust issues: You may thi nk that adults back.
population, won't believe you or won 't understand
what you have been t hrough. • Don't have to carry the bur
they are 25% Lack of awareness: You may not be aware den by yourself.
that a crime has occurred or that
of the victim
anyone can help. • May find out that other peo
population. Desire for privacy: You may feel ashamed
to have people know the deta ils of their ple have been through
• Often victims are hurt by victimization.
similar things.
Need for independence: You may fear that
someone they know. adu lts will take over and you will lose
control and decision-mak ing power in • May feel more hopeful about
Information in th is brochure provided by:
The Natio nal Center for Victims of Crime. (20 0 7). When a Youth is
the situation. your life.
Victimized . Available at
htt p:;/ WoNW.ncvc.orglncvc/ AGP.NeV Components/ documentViewer/ Do
wnload .aspxnz?Docu mentlD =46869 .
The Natio nal Cente r for Victims of Crime. (2007) . Teen Tools: Crime,
Teens, and Trauma. Available at
htt p:/ /WoNW.ncvc.orgltvp/AGP .NeVCo mpo nents /Docume ntViewer/Dow
nload.aspxn z?DocumentID=45 313
The Natio nal Gente r for Victims of Crime. (2007). Teen Tools: Getting
Help. Available at
htt p://WoNW.ncvc.orgltvp/AGP.Net/C ornponents/DocumentViewer/Dow