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You are here: More Topics > Victim Assistance
In 1982, Californians passed Proposition 8, the Victims’ Bill of Rights, which established rights for California crime victims and incorporated them in the California Constitution. These rights and other California statutes gave victims of both juvenile and adult offenders a voice in the criminal justice system and a right to recover losses through restitution. There are also organizations and laws to assist victims of other crimes.
The topics below provide information and resources you may find on the internet, as well as answers to questions about the various types of assistance for victims. Please click on a topic below for more information.
Adult and Juvenile Crime Victims
This page includes an overview of constitutional and state laws covering crime victims’ rights from the California Office of the Attorney General, information and resources for all crime victims and resources specific to victims of juvenile crime.
Civil Harassment
This connects to the Civil Harassment Restraining Orders area on our site that has information on how to get help to protect you from harassment. It includes forms and instructions on how to apply for a restraining order and how to find legal help.
Civil Rights
This provides links to several organizations that provide assistance and information for victims of civil rights violations.
Crimes Against Persons With Disabilities
This section offers links to information from several organizations that assist disabled crime victims. It includes information on many other topics for those with disabilities.
Domestic Violence
This connects you to the Domestic Violence area on our site that has information on how to get help to protect you or others from abuse, including safety plans, child custody cases involving domestic violence, restraining orders, and other subjects. Assistance is always available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TDD 1-800-787-3224. Resources are available in multiple languages.
Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse
This connects to the Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse area on our site that has information on how to get help to protect you or others you believe may be a victim of elder or dependent adult abuse. This section also helps find related forms and resources, such as organizations that provide assistance and information.
Employment Discrimination
This section offers Employment Discrimination links that have information from other sources if you are a victim of discrimination at work.
Forms for Victims
This section will help find, download, and use the court forms needed for a case. You can also download instructions for some forms. Forms available for victims include areas such as civil harassment, domestic violence, elder abuse, identity theft, restitution from crimes committed by either adults or juveniles, and workplace violence.
Hate Crimes
This section includes links to information on both preventing hate crimes and what resources are available for victims of hate crimes. In California, hate violence includes any act of violence or threat of violence against a person or their property because of that person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or position in a labor dispute. Laws protect victims of both criminal and civil crimes.
Identity Theft, Financial Crime, and Cybercrime Victims
Links are available in this section to resources, assistance, and tips for prevention if you become a victim of identity theft, financial crime, or cybercrime. Increasing numbers of people have become victims of crimes that differ from what is typically associated with the need for victim assistance—violent crime. These crimes include identity theft, a crime in which an imposter steals personal information to use against you; financial crime, a nonviolent, intentional deception resulting in a financial loss; and cybercrime, which encompasses any criminal act dealing with computers, networks, or any traditional crimes conducted through the Internet. A crime from any of these sources can also bring emotional and psychological consequences, just as violent crime does.
Restitution, Victim Compensation, and Restorative Justice
This section contains links to information about the conditions under which you may seek restitution and resources and information about restorative justice. One of the main tenets written into the Victims’ Bill of Rights is the right to seek restitution—money an offender pays to the victim of a crime for the victim’s actual out-of-pocket costs or losses. Other types of compensation may include emotional or physical losses. Related to victim compensation, the principles of restorative justice include the victim and the offender, and focus on repairing the harm to victims and communities. It is an alternative way to look at the criminal justice system, where crime is viewed as an offense against the community.
Restraining Orders
This connects to the Introduction to Restraining Orders area on our site that answers questions about what types of orders are available, the fees involved, and how to get help.
Workplace violence
This connects to the Violence at Work: How to Get a Restraining Order area on our site that has information about how to get help to protect you or others from abuse in the workplace. It also provides links to other helpful sites.
Victim Assistance Links
Please see any of the topics above for more resources. You may also see links for other topics here.
Victim Assistance Questions and Answers
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Last modified: 01/12/2007
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