Victoria Police Statistics show that the total number of victims of crime against the person in 2009/2010 was 39,032. In the 2009/2010 period the number of crimes compensation applications finalised was a total of 5,920. The number of applications that have been struck out, withdrawn or refused in 2009/2010 was 1,454. Therefore comparing the total number…
DetailsThe advantages for victims of crime in pursuing an award for compensation through the Victims of Crime Assistance Act include: 1. Assistance is not dependent upon an assailant being convicted or even identified. 2. Compensation is State funded (your taxes at work). 3. Victims have no legal or other costs. 4. No need for a court hearing.…
DetailsAccording to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2010 there were 28,500 victims of assault in Victoria, and of these about 1,500 victims were children under fifteen years of age. From January 2008 to August 2010 Child Protection reported some 58,500 cases of child abuse, some 30,000 per year, to the police. There appears to…
DetailsParking inspectors, police, paramedics, nurses and other such community workers are often victims of physical assaults while in the process of performing their duties. Not only do they need to contend with the stressors of their very demanding employment they often need to contend with a high degree of aggression and violence often perpetrated against…
DetailsWhile Crimes Compensation is the easiest and simplest way for victims of crime in Victoria to be compensated there is also another relatively easy procedure through the Sentencing Act. Crimes Compensation is in essence an insurance scheme which all Victorians fund and which they can make a claim agaisnt, the same way one pays for…
DetailsIf you have been the victim of crime, such as a physical assault, and have made a police statement kindly bring your statement to our offices at 163 Victoria Parade Fitzroy and receive a Free Personal Alarm System. This is a community service initiative by Victims of Crime Counselling and Compensation Services to assist victims…
DetailsThe Victoria Police SupportLink Project is a computer-based program system to assist police to make referrals to social support service to assist victims of crime in receiving assistance. In 2010 only about 15% of all eligible victims of crime made a claim through Crimes Compensation in Victoria. What this means is that some 85% of victims of crime,…
DetailsI would also like to add my support to the Melbourne Victims’ Collective for an independent public enquiry in the way the Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese has handled complaints about sexual abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests against children. From my own experience in assisting victims of crime in dealing with such matters I have seen the…
DetailsYou are more likely to develop PTSD if you have been directly exposed to the trauma, seriously hurt, the trauma was long-lasting or very severe, believed you were in extreme danger or were going to die, had a severe reaction such shaking, vomiting or feeling separated from your surroundings and felt helpless. Other factors contributing to the…
DetailsIn 2010 there were 28,500 victims of assault in Victoria, 15,850 males and 12,030 females, with most victims aged between 25 and 34 years with male victims most likely to be assaulted by a unknown assailant in a community setting and females by a known assailant in a residential location. There were 94 victims of homicide of whom 59%…
DetailsTo have your say about sentencing in Victoria please click onto the following link.
http://www.myviews.justice.vic.gov.au/long-survey-landing-page.html
I would strongly encourage everyone to contribute to this very valuable state government survey looking at crime and sentencing in Victoria.
Trauma histories have been shown to exist in between 51 and 98% of individuals diagnosed with serious mental health problems and is often misdiagnosed in children for depression, ADHD and Conduct Disorder. Trauma also significantly contributes to heath problems, such as heart disease, and social problems, such as crime. Individuals with mental health, substance abuse…
DetailsEuropean research has shown that one in two victims applying for state compensation many years later and following settlement still maintain symptoms of post traumatic stress. Considerations for recovery are: 1. The act of violence itself. 2. The relationship with the perpetrator. 3. Treatment. 4. Outcomes of criminal and/or compensation processes. This study shows that…
DetailsIf you are a victim of crime and would like to post information about your incident, such as help to locate the assailant or witnesses or any other relevant information, you can post such information on our wall at 163 Victoria Parade Fitzroy. This is a very visible location with many motorists and pedestrians passing…
DetailsViolent crimes in Victoria have doubled over the past ten years. The previous state Labour Government went out of its way to avoid reporting these alarming figures and in doing so has allowed such crimes to significantly escalate. The current state government has acknowledge that there is a serious crime problem in Victoria and appears…
DetailsIt is not uncommon to see victims seriously harmed by individuals aged under eighteen years, and often operating in gangs. These crimes are often no less serious and no less intentional than a crime committed by an older person. For those who suggest that mandatory jail terms will deprive such individual’s of their most fundamental…
DetailsWhat is all this fuss about the validity of the Crime Poll? As the current state government has indicated it will be used to listen to community views and to help guide new policy. This is nothing new, and in fact, exactly how a government should act, on community sentiments. I applaud the state government…
DetailsMany people are victimized by crime and many crime victims have subsequent medical and mental health needs. The majority of crime victims neither report their crimes nor seek needed health care services after victimization. In Victoria there are currently around 40,000 victims of serious crime each year yet only around 6,000 seek support from government funded victims of crime…
DetailsThe criminal justice system can have both a positive and a negative impact on the mental health of victims of crime. The justice system by allowing victims to confront assailants with the damage that they have caused may hold the prospect of allowing them to come to terms with their experiences. Reaching a court settlement may be part of…
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