Effects of crime

Experiencing crime can affect people in different ways. There is no one normal reaction to experiencing crime. Some people may feel a loss of power or uncertainty, while others may be angry and some people may not show much reaction at all. These are all valid. 

The effects can happen straight away or later, and they can change over time. Your response to a crime may depend on what happened, your situation, and the support you have. Whatever your reaction, what happened is not your fault.

People use different terms to describe the impact that experiencing a crime can have. You may hear words like distress, injury, or trauma. 

Trauma is the emotional, psychological and physical response to events or experiences that feel overwhelming, threatening or harmful. Trauma can affect how people feel, think, behave and relate to others.

It can come from an isolated incident or repeated harm and can cause people to react and function in different ways than usually. 

After experiencing a crime, you may notice changes in your:

• emotions 
• body 
• sleep, concentration and memory
• sense of safety 
• relationships and whānau life
• spiritual or cultural wellbeing
• work, study, or daily routine.

You might experience these changes even if you were not physically injured. Your response may not look like someone else’s and that is okay. Some people have many reactions after a crime has happened; while others may notice very little at first. Your reactions may change over time, and many responses after experiencing crime are common and understandable.

People, whānau and communities may understand and respond to harm in different ways depending on their culture, beliefs, experiences and support networks.

You’re not alone, there are organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand that provide free support for people affected by crime and other traumatic events. They can help you when you are experiencing grief and loss or when the crime changed how safe you feel around other people.

You can ask for help at any time. It may help to talk to someone if:

• your reactions are not easing over time
• you're worried about how you are feeling
• you struggle with your daily life such as sleep, work and caring for others 
• you feel overwhelmed
• you do not feel safe.

Support services for different situations 

You can choose the support that feels right for you and your situation. Specialist support means that the team has experts who can for example be able to help you:

• after experiencing specific crimes, such as family violence or sexual violence
• if you are looking for help with language support or visa-related concerns
• for rainbow and takatāpui people, their friends, family and whānau.

To learn more about organisations that can help you in your situation, you can go to Supporting organisations.

If you are supporting someone who has been affected by a crime, this can affect your own wellbeing too. You may need:

• to take a break and get some rest
• get some support for yourself
• make clear boundaries around how much you can be there for the other person and what you are able to support them with.

Looking after yourself can help you help someone else.

You can look at the support available to help you and your whānau: Support & wellbeing.

If the crime has caused you to lose money or go into debt, you can ask about Financial help.

If you want the court to understand how the crime has affected you, you can learn about Victim impact statements.