Victim Assistance and Criminology

The provision of information, protection, referrals, practical support, and recovery services to people harmed by crime.

An approach prioritizing victims' safety, dignity, informed participation, individual needs, and access to appropriate services while respecting due process.

A practice that recognizes possible effects of trauma and seeks to promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and avoidance of unnecessary retraumatization.

Safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration; empowerment, voice and choice; and attention to cultural, historical, and gender issues.

The recurrence or intensification of trauma-related distress when experiences or procedures evoke earlier traumatic events.

Memory may be affected by stress, trauma, time, and questioning conditions; inconsistencies require careful evaluation rather than automatic conclusions.

A supportive, practical approach intended to reduce immediate distress, address basic needs, and connect affected persons with appropriate assistance.

Psychological first aid provides immediate practical and emotional support, while psychotherapy involves structured treatment by appropriately qualified professionals.

A person's voluntary agreement to a service after receiving understandable information about its purpose, potential effects, limitations, and available choices.

It protects privacy, promotes trust, and reduces unnecessary exposure to retaliation, stigma, or further harm, subject to applicable legal exceptions.

An individualized set of practical measures and contacts intended to reduce exposure to danger and improve access to emergency assistance.

A statement describing the physical, emotional, financial, or other effects of an offense, used where applicable procedural rules permit.

No. Criminal guilt must be established through admissible evidence under the applicable legal standard.

Financial assistance or payment intended to address qualifying losses or harm resulting from victimization.

A requirement that an offender restore property or compensate for loss or damage as authorized by law.

Compensation may come from a public fund or other authorized source; restitution generally involves payment or restoration by the responsible offender.

The Philippine law creating a Board of Claims under the Department of Justice for specified victims of unjust imprisonment or detention and victims of violent crimes.

The Board of Claims under the Philippine Department of Justice.

To evaluate and award compensation to eligible claimants under the conditions and limits established by law.

No. Eligibility, documentary requirements, filing periods, and award limitations apply.

Six months from release from imprisonment or detention, or from the date the victim suffered damage or injury, as applicable under the statute.

Up to ₱10,000, or the amount necessary to reimburse qualifying expenses, whichever is lower, under the original statutory framework.

Administrative rules, interpretations, and subsequent legal developments may affect applicable procedures or benefits.

The Philippine Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act.

To encourage qualified persons to testify by providing authorized protection, security, and benefits against risks connected with their testimony.

The Department of Justice.

No. Admission is subject to statutory qualifications, evaluation, and applicable program procedures.

Threats or risks connected with testimony are relevant to assessing the need for protective measures under the program.

An agreement setting out the participant's obligations and conditions for receiving protection and program benefits.

Yes. Participants must comply with applicable program obligations and security arrangements.

Witness protection is a structured statutory program with eligibility requirements and benefits; ordinary police security may involve protective measures outside that program.

The Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

To provide special protection for children against abuse, exploitation, discrimination, and related prohibited acts.

Questions and procedures should account for the child's age, comprehension, communication abilities, and vulnerability to suggestion or distress.

A Supreme Court procedural rule providing safeguards and special measures for receiving testimony from child witnesses.

To facilitate reliable testimony while reducing unnecessary fear, intimidation, and emotional harm.

The Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

Physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse within relationships covered by the statute.

A protection order issued by the punong barangay, or an available barangay kagawad when authorized, directing the respondent to desist from specified acts covered by the law.

Fifteen days.

Barangay Protection Order, Temporary Protection Order, and Permanent Protection Order.

A Temporary Protection Order provides court-issued protection for a limited period, while a Permanent Protection Order is issued after the required judicial proceedings.

An approach emphasizing accountability, repair of harm, and appropriate participation by affected persons and communities.

A facilitated restorative process in which a victim and offender may communicate about harm and accountability when appropriate safeguards and voluntary participation exist.

Victims should not be pressured into participation, forgiveness, reconciliation, or contact with an offender.

Use developmentally appropriate procedures, avoid coercion, assess support needs, and follow applicable child-witness safeguards.

The Department of Justice Board of Claims.

Republic Act No. 6981.

Republic Act No. 9262.

Respect the decision, avoid coercion, and offer other appropriate assistance or accountability options.