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Victims of crime and persons adversely affected by crime

What is the difference between victims of crime and persons adversely affected by crime?


Persons adversely affected by crime.

The Victims Charter makes a distinction between “Persons adversely affected by crime” and “victims”.

“Persons adversely affected by crime” is the broader category, and includes:

  • Victims
  • A family member of a victim
  • Witnesses to criminal events

Principles 1, 3 and 4  of the Victims Charter apply to persons adversely affected by crime. These can be summarised as:  

  • Principle 1 - treatment with courtesy, respect and dignity
  • Principle 3 – special treatment of disadvantaged persons
  • Principle 4 – information on available services and support

Victims.

Victims sit within the broader definition of “Persons adversely affected by crime” and all principles within the Victims’ Charter apply. The Victims Charter defines a victim as:

  • a natural person who has suffered injury as a direct result of a criminal offence, whether or not that injury was reasonably foreseeable by the offender; or
  • if a person has died as a direct result of a criminal offence committed against that person, a family member of that person; or
  • if the person referred to in paragraph (a) is under 18 years of age or is incapable of managing his or her own affairs because of mental impairment, a family member of that person; or
  • in the case of an offence against section 49M of the Crimes Act 1958 (grooming for sexual conduct with a child under the age of 16), the child and a family member of that child.
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