FAQs
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Or, the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. Call us at (888) 407-4747 (from the U.S. or Canada) or (202) 501-4444(from overseas). Consular officers are available for emergency help.
What to do if you are the victim of a crime abroad? ›
If You Are the Victim of a Crime Overseas
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy, consulate, or consular agency for assistance. Contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate help with safety concerns. Request a copy of the police report.
What are the best programs to help victims of crime? ›
The following organizations also may be able to provide you with information about your rights or refer you to an attorney: The National Crime Victim Law Institute , National Crime Victim Bar Association , National Center for Victims of Crime , and the National Organization for Victim Assistance .
What is an organization that helps victims? ›
The National Center for Victims of Crime – The National Center for Victims of Crime.
How do I ask for an embassy help? ›
Destitute U.S. citizens in need of help overseas should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Or they can contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at (888) 407-4747 (or from overseas +1 202-501-4444).
Can police tell you who reported you? ›
Are you asking if the police have to tell you that someone reported you for a crime? Unless there is a state law or a agency policy requiring it, no the police do not have to tell you a thing about someone reporting you.
What type of victim received money most often? ›
Thirty-six percent of the applications paid were due to assault, followed by child sexual abuse (24 percent), sexual assault (19 percent), and homicide (8 percent).
What are the three major needs of crime victims? ›
Physical, emotional, and psychological safety are all important for victims in the aftermath of crime. Recognize that victims' safety concerns may also extend to children, family members, friends, and others.
What right is commonly afforded to crime victims? ›
These federal and state provisions generally articulate the following rights for victims throughout the criminal justice process: to be informed of proceedings and events; to attend proceedings and be heard; to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; to privacy and protection from intimidation and harassment; to ...
What are the 4 stages of victimization? ›
Casarez-Levison (1992) discussed victimization as a process where a person moves from a pre-crime state (Previctimization), to the crime event itself (Victimization), to initial coping and adjustment (Transition), and finally to a state where being a crime victim is just part of one's life experience (Resolution).
Contact local law enforcement.
If you are the victim of a crime you should contact law enforcement as soon as possible to report the crime. When reporting the crime you should be as detailed as possible when given descriptions of suspects, vehicles, or any property taken during the crime.
What is the US Crime Victims Fund? ›
The United States Crime Victims Fund, administered by the Office for Victims of Crime, is used to recompense victims of offenses against U.S. law. The fund was established as part of the 1984 Victims of Crimes Act.
What support is given to victims? ›
Since its inception in 2001, the FBI's victim assistance program has provided services—such as crisis intervention, emergency travel assistance, and local referrals for counseling, housing, and other services—to more than 2 million victims.
What is it called when a victim gets money? ›
Crime victim compensation is typically for survivors of violent crimes and does not require the identification or conviction of the perpetrator. Restitution, an option for all victims of crime, regardless of crime type, is the direct reimbursem*nt from an identified and convicted individual.
What happens if you are accused of a crime in another country? ›
If you commit a serious crime overseas, there is a high probability that you will be extradited. Extradition is the process in which one nation or state surrenders a suspected criminal to another nation or state. Extradition is regulated by treaties. The United States has extradition treaties with over 100 nations.
What happens if you get assaulted in another country? ›
In most cases, forensic evidence needs to be collected within 72 hours of an assault. While living or traveling abroad, you are subject to the laws and judicial system of the country in which you are located. The U.S. Department of State is committed to assisting U.S. citizens who become victims of crime while abroad.
What happens if a US citizen gets hurt in another country? ›
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Or, the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. Call us at (888) 407-4747 (from the U.S. or Canada) or (202) 501-4444(from overseas). Consular officers are available for emergency help.
Can Americans be prosecuted for crimes abroad? ›
U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the foreign countries they visit. You can be prosecuted in the United States for some acts committed overseas. You can be prosecuted even if the acts are legal where they happened.