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Message From the DirectorAbout This GuideResources
Resource Guide for Serving U.S. Citizens Victimized Abroad
Publication Date:  April 2008
Contents
Victim Services: An International Outlook
Responding to Victimization Abroad
Coordinating Victim Services
If the Victim Remains Abroad
minus iconIf the Victim Returns to the United States
minus iconInternational Terrorism
minus iconCrime Victim Compensation
Checklists for Assisting U.S. Citizens Victimized Abroad

If the Victim Remains Abroad

When a U.S. citizen is a victim of crime overseas, domestic victim service providers should consider the following:

  • Victim needs can vary dramatically based on the country and its culture, systems, and resources.

  • Victim advocacy at all stages, from victimization through recovery, may not be institutionalized in the country in which the crime occurred.

  • Obtaining information on behalf of victims will be more challenging than in U.S. cases.

  • Gaining access to police or court records may be particularly difficult.

In addition, where a crime should be reported can vary from location to location. In some countries, for a variety of reasons, it is not recommended that a victim report a crime to the local police. Embassies and consulates have people onsite who are familiar with local conditions, and victims should be advised to report crimes to a consular officer who can help them follow a prudent approach to reporting or taking other action.