Victim Conference Observations
Hostile/Angry Victim
· If they seem threatening take a step back from them
· Tell them to calm down and take some deep breaths; otherwise the police will be called
· Try to get them to walk around in the building so you can go over to where the police are stationed in the building
· Appear like you are taking them seriously and ensure you will do your job to the fullest
· Do not lie though so tell them you will get the truth for them even if the answer is something they won’t like
· Make sure to explain everything to them in a factual manner
· Write down the information for them so they can keep it
· Usually they are angry because they felt someone did not do their job and/ or because they have a common misconception of the legal system
· Make sure you evaluate them so that they are not getting themselves into anything they are not ready for
o I.e confronting a defendant when giving victim impact.
· Never give a personal opinion
· Always let the victim make their own decision so they do not have any regrets later on
· Make sure you advice them to focus on their own well being
o They are overly angry, with right, about a crime
o However, that should not consume them
Crying Victim
· Always have tissues available
· Bring them to a quite area and get them to calm down
· Calm them by comforting them
· It can be appropriate to hold/pat a victim who is crying as a form of reassurance
· Do not be timid around someone who is crying
· If you help them out in their time of need they will remember your actions and be more likely to seek your help/advice in the future
Domestic Victim
· Understand that the victims go through a cyclical cycle: they will stick by the defendant, make excuses for them, then they will want justice and they will turn on the defendant, then they will doubt there actions so that they are once again sick of the defendant.
o Knowing what part of the cycle they are in can help you gauge what to say
· Never get mad at a victim, especially a domestic victim
· Show them that you will always be there for them, but within reason.
o If they are going to jeopardize a case by refusing to help explain that the state must proceed because their well being is too important.
o Also let them know to proceed with caution so that they do not purge themselves
Child Victim
· Make sure you talk to the child on their level
· Do not start talking about the crime right away
o Talk about something they are interested in first
o Then ease them into talking about the case
· Make sure the child feels a level of comfort around you before you talk to them about the crime
· Make sure the child understands it was not their fault and they are in no way to be ashamed of what happened
· Mainly you talk to a child to find out what happened in a case and then the rest of the information pertaining to a conversation is talked about with the parent
Parent of a Victim
· Make sure that the parent supports the child 100%
· If the parent is not supportive but rather angry show your sympathy to the parent, but keep the child's well being as the focus
o i.e if a parent is angery that the child never told them about the crime, tell them you understand, but that the child may have been embarrassed or fearful. What is important is that it was not his fault and you are here for him now
o Make the parent realize that they are also the victim of a crime and that they need to be taken care of as well either through counseling or gaining the proper support from friends and family
General Information About Victims
· With the victim's trust they are more receptive to the information you give them
· You are not exactly manipulating them; rather you are making it so they consider information that is vital to their well being
· Make sure to use appropriate non-verbal cues: keep eye contact and nod at appropriate moments
· Actively listen by clarifying information when appropriate and repeat back some of the information to show you are paying attention
· Tone should be appropriate
· With the more serious crimes like molestation the advocate should sit next to the victim in court
Return to: Annotation Two & Evidence
