Victimization and experience of crime victims with state institutions: The analysis of VDS info and victim support service’s data

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the types and characteristics of primary and secondary victimization faced by the victims who turned to the VDS info and victims support service for assistance, with particular emphasis on their experience with governmental institutions as well as the assistance and support they received from the Service. In 2005, VDS info and victim support service received totally 452 calls from 94 persons, namely from 76 women and 18 men. In this paper, the data of VDS info and victim support service for the period from 1st July until 31st December 2005 are analyzed. This particular period has been chosen since it was the first period for which data were registered and processed by using a specially constructed questionnaire and specific methodology of data entry and processing.