crime victim services

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It is common for people who are the victims of crime to experience many feelings: anger, fear, vulnerability, confusion, frustration or even guilt. It's important to understand that the responsibility for a criminal act lies 100% on the person who committed that crime. There is no injustice or justification in America today that justifies harming another innocent person.

There are all sorts of reasons people commit crimes. Almost never is it out of desperation or necessity to survive or even provide for a family. In all my years as a police officer, not once did I respond to a residential burglary where someone stole food to feed their family. Or pawned stolen jewelry so they could put gas in their tank to drive to work.

The reality is most crimes are committed to feed addictions, out of personal greed, for thrill or entertainment, or even plain cruelty. I didn't believe it myself at first, but there are people in this world who are truly evil. Not simply criminal sociopaths who lack any empathy or concern for others, but men who truly take pleasure by making other people suffer. Agree with me or not, but it is the only way I explain some of the things I have seen.

It understandably difficult for the average person to understand the criminal mind, and why someone would violate the sanctity of their home, property or person. It can be even more frustrating to learn that the person who targeted you was likely a repeat offender, who had been offered services, second chances and ultimately probably should have been incarcerated - or, dealing with possibility that law enforcement or the justice system may never identify or hold the person responsible for their actions.

Much of the stress of being a victim of crime is due to a feeling of lack of control. You can't control how people were raised, you can't control what the justice system did in the past, and you can't control what laws people choose to break. But there are things you can do to understand what happened to you, reduce or eliminate the chances of it happening again, prepare yourself to respond differently when you are faced with crime or danger, and influence how criminal proceedings are handled by the police, prosecutors and courts.

We are not mental health professionals or grief counselors - there are people far more qualified to help you with that than us, but if you want to regain a sense of control, maximize your chance of seeing justice done, and refuse to be a victim again, we can help through a variety of ways:

-Home & personal security assessments

-Understanding victim's rights: How to work with the police, prosecutors and courts to ensure your voice is heard and wishes as a victim are respected.

-Finding information on the suspect's criminal record and background

-Self-defense training to protect you and your loved ones at home and in public

-Home security planning to help secure your property and deter future criminal acts

If you have been the victim of crime, and need professional assistance navigating the aftermath, or want to take control of your safety, please contact us at info@criticalimpactgroup.com