Guide for Healing - Help For Crime Victims

1. Breathe. Breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. Slowly count to ten. You think better when you are calm.

2. Focus. Where are you? What is today's date? If you encountered the perpertrator, draw a mental picture of him/her, them. How many people? What colors where he.she/they wearing? What sex? About how tall (easiest to comare to you - the police will figure out about how tall compared to your height) What type of footwear? What if any facial hair?Any distinguishing marks (tatoos, scars) Any jewelry (particularly religious)?

3. Do not move anything. The police and medics want to see the condition of you and your material possessions (home, automobile,....) as close to the time when crime occured.

4. Call for help. The police are there to help you. If you don't feel comfortable with the officer that is taking the information regarding the crime, you can always later call your local department and ask to speak with someone who will be more compassionate to your situation.

5. Do not take a shower or clean yourself up. If you are bleeding heavily of course find something to help clot the wound. Paper, clothes, sheets.... The police and medics want to see the condition of your body as close to when injury happened as possible.

6. Someone had to have seen something.
Do whatever you can to stay outside; observe people at the same place, same time as crime. Talk with them. Even if people lie to you, there will be someone who won't.

7. Take photographs before moving anything. You will want to have your own copies for legan purposes Police might take pictures, but you will not be able to obtain them as they become evidence site pictures.

8. Make a list of all medical needs (if pertains).

9. Make a list of all things stolen (if pertains).

10. Persistance pays off. Remember, unfortunately you are not the only crime victim and everyone wants a lot of time spent on their case. Keep in contact with the dectective assigned to your case. Often there is only one per type of case. Call the local district attorney's office advocating that your case be investigated more thoroughly, especially if you are able to provide more information through talking to neighbors, passersby, workers in area.... Write letters. Do not give up.

11. Find out by calling your locan and state district attorney's office to find out if there is any compensation. Often one can be compensated for medical devices such as eyeglasses... You may also be able to receive some money for other items broke or stolen with proof of purchase.

12. Find a way to provide youself with and end to what happened. Do some kind of ritual. Find a place to be able to forgive and move on. The most devestating thing than can occur is that you rob youself of happiness of today. You may not have justice in a courtroom (in otherwords the crime may never be solved), but you can indeed acieve peace - alittle or alot each day.



I wrote above from personal experience. I consider this page as part of my Justice.

-Shaiyel Seltzer

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administation(SAMHSA)

National Coalition Formed to Promote Community-based Care for Persons With Mental Illness under Landmark Supreme Court Decision