Setting Up a Safe Haven for Victims
All of the wonderful services, from the food to the support, made our stay so much easier. It was wonderful to have a safe place to go where you can talk freely. It made a difficult time meaningful.4
For many victims and survivors, participating in the judicial process is a necessary element of their healing process. Other victims, however, may be retraumatized by the experience. Viewing the trial can be difficult in many respects
- The testimony and other evidence may force victims and survivors to relive the horror of the tragedy.
- The defendant has all the benefits of the U.S. Constitution and the presumption of innocence.
- The defendant may use the trial as a forum for expressing his or her political views.
- Victim-impact testimony can be highly emotional and occasionally graphic.
For these reasons, a victim service protocol that focuses on providing services in a Safe Haven facility can be very successful during high-profile trials involving victims of large-scale terrorism.
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