Shakopee Police Department 2023 Annual Report

VICTIM AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

By Barb Hedstrom, Victim and Community Services Coordinator

Family, friends, co-workers, and others may not understand the impact the crime has had or how to help Reaching out to the city’s CVC can help the victim and others in their lives understand and recover more fully There may be financial assistance available to crime victims who seek counseling or treatment People may also experience a variety of physical symptoms including trembling, dizziness, racing thoughts, difficulty breathing, etc Knowing what to expect can sometimes limit the severity or duration of these reactions The crime victim themselves is not the only person that may be having these common reactions Witnesses, family members, co-workers, friends, first responders, kids in their life, others in the community, and even people who have experienced something similar in the past can start experiencing traumatic stress after a crime Some tips to try to deal or cope with traumatic stress can include: ■ Accept your feelings—both the “good” and “bad” ones; realize your life may have a new normal at least for a while ■ Regain control over things you can, challenge your sense of helplessness, and keep moving along the path from being a victim to being a survivor ■ Emphasize healthy eating and sleeping ■ Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol, drugs, caffeine, or nicotine ■ Reduce your exposure to media—including social media—especially at times you are feeling most vulnerable ■ Identify and use new stress reduction techniques like trying a mindfulness app, exploring nature, moving your body to your favorite music, volunteering, expressing gratitude, journaling, painting, playing with or pet an animal, staying connected to others, etc

The Shakopee Police Department’s crime victim coordinator (CVC) serves crime victims in a variety of ways, including: ■ Providing an overview of the investigative process and then the criminal court process ■ Educating and assisting victims in asserting their rights as ■ Supporting victims in their recovery from trauma Supporting victims in emotional and trauma recovery is perhaps the most important part of the CVC’s job Almost all victims of crime experience very similar reactions If you are a victim of a scam or have had your home burglarized or if you have been physically harmed or had your property damaged, as a crime victim you can experience very similar emotions, some of which are described below One of the first emotions a crime victim may experience is fear Crime victims often wonder if they will be retaliated against, if their personal information be shared, and if they’ll have to go to court Having a person to talk to about these concerns— and assisting in developing a plan around these concerns and worries—is essential to help victims minimize the future impact or trauma Victims greatly benefit from getting information and ideas on possible solutions for their concerns Crime victims may feel shock and numbness—sometimes making it difficult to think, recall details, or make decisions These are very common examples of how a person’s brain reacts to a traumatic event Just knowing this is normal— and many times temporary—can be comforting to a person experiencing it The CVC can also assist in locating other professionals and resources to help overcome the trauma Many victims experience guilt and question their own choices and actions, which can often be amplified by society’s perception of victims “Victim blaming” is a common human response but one that should not be encouraged No one “deserves” or “asks” to be a victim of a crime Sometimes crime victims start feeling loneliness, depression, or grief, especially when they are not able to “just get over it” a crime victim in Minnesota ■ Assist in locating resources

In 2023, the CVC had:

victim contacts 470

contacts with other criminal justice or victim services professionals 170

community contacts 252

hearings attended with or on behalf of crime victims 78

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