DC Student Defense focuses on helping students in a variety of situations and circumstances. Cases we handle range from plagiarism to hazing- and include everything in between. I have worked at DC Student Defense for nearly a year. Throughout this time, I have worked not only on a large number of cases, but with many victims. In doing so, I have gained valuable experience that I use both in and out of the workplace.
Some of these lessons are outlined below:
No Two Victims’ Experiences Are Alike
Just like each person has a different personality, everybody handles their victimization in a different way. Rather than treating all crime victims in the same way, it is necessary to adjust one’s approach according to their circumstance, type of victimization, and temperament. While some victims pursue justice for their perpetrator, other victims may only have an end goal of a no contact order. Each victim is different, and all have rights that need to be taken into account. In order to tailor representation according to each victim and to know what he or she has as an end goal, it is necessary to take the time to be attentive to the victim.
The Power of Listening
One thing many crime victims have in common is that they want someone to hear them out. In my experience, many victims do not share their situations with people because they do not have someone whom they feel comfortable and unwary about sharing their experiences with. Thus, I find it important to not only listen to the victim in terms of their account of what happened, but also in terms of the impact of the event on them. In doing so, the victim not only acquires a sense of relief over sharing his or her experience, but also is reassured that someone is truly listening.
Patience is a Virtue
Often, being a listening ear does not only consist of a couple minutes of attention. It is important to be patient when listening to crime victims in order to get a better understanding of the circumstances of his or her case. In doing so, I can use the information provided to help build the most successful case possible. Sometimes, the most important details are not those that the victim states outright, but are those hidden in the details that may take the crime victim awhile to remember or even decide to tell.
How to Collaborate with Outside Resources and Organizations
Working with a crime victim entails working with the opposing party in the matter, as well as a decision making body such as a court or school. Additionally, it often includes working with an outside group of people, such as another victims’ rights group that specializes in a particular aspect of one’s case (i.e. a local victims’ resource center). In doing so, the victim may receive additional attention and care in handling their matter.
Utilizing outside resources has taught me to collaborate with others rather than trying to handle all aspects of a case alone. When multiple entities work together, the product is often better and more successful for the client than any one person or resource could have produced alone.
The Ability to Establish Trust
As I already noted, people all have unique personalities. Some people are shy, some are defensive, and others want to tell you every detail of their victimization immediately. More often than not, people are hesitant to open up to a complete stranger. In these instances, it is important to establish trust with the crime victim as soon as and as well as possible. By doing so in a gentle and understanding manner, the victims become comfortable enough to share their experience, which in turn allows for the most successful representation. Making any person, but especially a crime victim, feel supported and understood, is essential both in the legal realm and in everyday life
