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Definition Lists

Crime Types Definition List

Bullying
As defined as unwanted aggressive behavior among school aged children (age 3-18) that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. These negative acts may be physical or verbal in nature – for example, hitting or kicking, teasing or taunting – or they may involve indirect actions such as manipulating friendships or purposely excluding other children from activities.
Child Exposed to Violence
As defined as a form of child maltreatment in which the child is exposed as an eyewitness to violence, crime, or abuse in their homes or communities.
Child Physical Abuse or Neglect (Current or Recent)
Child physical abuse is defined as non-accidental injury to a child by a parent or other adult in a position of authority that may include severe beatings, burns, strangulation, or human bites. Child Neglect is any deficit in meeting a child’s basic needs, including the failure to provide adequate health care, supervision, clothing, nutrition, housing as well as their physical, emotional, social, educational and safety needs.
Child Physical Abuse (Historical)
As defined as adults physically abused as children.
Child Pornography
As defined as any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, drawing, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, which is produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where: (1) its production involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; (2) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; (3) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or (4) it is advertised, distributed, promoted, or presented in such a manner as to convey the impression that it is a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Child Sexual Abuse (Current or Recent)
As defined as activities including fondling a minor’s genitals, penetration, incest, rape, sodomy, indecent exposure, and exploitation through prostitution by a parent, caregiver, or other person. Includes teen sexual assault. Generally used for individuals 17 years or younger, with slight differences from state to state.
Child Sexual Abuse (Historical)
As defined as adults molested or sexually assaulted as children.
Cyber Crimes
This is defined as revenge porn, distribution of sexual images, and tech-based harassment.
Domestic Violence (Intimate Partner)
As defined as violent or abusive acts which involve a current or former spouse, domestic partner, or dating partner. Domestic violence can include physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse of one person by another in order to intimidate, humiliate or frighten the victim as a way of maintaining power and control. This also includes teen dating violence, as defined as the physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a teen dating relationship, including stalking. It can occur in person or electronically and might occur between a current or former dating partner.
Domestic Violence (Non-Intimate Partner)
As defined as violent or abusive acts which involve a current or former roommate, employer or individuals who are co-housing without an intimate partner nexus. Domestic violence can include physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse of one person by another in order to intimidate, humiliate or frighten the victim as a way of maintaining power and control.
Drunk or Drugged Driving
As defined as accidents involving one or more motor vehicles in which at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) or was legally intoxicated (DWI) at the time of the crash.
Elder Abuse or Neglect
As defined as any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship that causes harm or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person. Elder abuse may include abuse that is physical, emotional/psychological (including threats), or sexual; neglect (including abandonment); and financial exploitation. This is a general definition; state definitions of elder abuse vary. Some definitions may also include fraud, scams, or financial crimes targeted at older people.
Fraud/Identity Theft
Fraud and financial crimes include illegal acts characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust and that are not dependent upon the application or threat of physical force or violence. Individuals and organizations commit these acts to obtain money, property, or services; to avoid the payment or loss of money or services; or to secure personal or business advantage. Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully obtains another’s personal information, without their knowledge, to commit theft or fraud.
Gang Violence
As defined as criminal acts committed by a group of three or more individuals who regularly engage in criminal activity and identify themselves with a common name or sign.
Hate Crime
As defined as a crime, violent or property, which is motivated by the perpetrator’s bias towards the victim’s perceived identity and/or the victim’s association with others of a perceived identity.
Harassment
As defined as a range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behavior which disturbs or upsets, and it is characteristically repetitive. It is behavior which appears to be threatening or disturbing. Sexual harassment includes persistent and unwanted sexual advances, typically in the workplace, where the consequences of refusing are potentially very disadvantageous to the victim. Cyber harassment is also a major form of harassment that includes the threatening to expose private pictures. Harassment can take place in other forms like on college campus or by neighbors and acquaintances, however it is distinguished from stalking as it is not repetitive and does not cause the victim to be in fear of their safety.
Homicide
As defined as the death of a person caused by criminal activity committed by another human being. Survivor of homicide victim.
Human Trafficking (Labor)
As defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.
Human Trafficking (Sex)
As defined as a person of any age engaging in a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.
Kidnapping (Custodial/Familial/Non-Custodial)
As defined as one parent or guardian depriving another of his or her legal right to custody or visitation of a minor by unlawfully taking the child. Or, as defined as someone unlawfully seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away and holding for ransom or reward, any person, except in the case of a minor by the parent.
Property Crime (Robbery/Theft/Burglary/Arson)
Robbery is defined as the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence. Burglary is defined as the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program includes three subclassifications: forcible entry, unlawful entry where no force is used, and attempted forcible entry. The UCR definition of “structure” includes apartment, barn, house trailer or houseboat when used as a permanent dwelling, office, railroad car (but not automobile), stable, and vessel (i.e., ship). Arson is defined as any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling, house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, or personal property of another.
Sexual Assault
As defined as any sexual offense—including rape, incest, fondling, exhibitionism, or pornography. Sexual assault involves a wide range of unwanted sexual behaviors that are performed against a person’s will, or when a person is unable to give consent because of their age, disability, level of intoxication, or other reasons. Sexual assaults may or may not involve force and include such things as grabbing, fondling, and verbal threats. Also included is rape, which is defined as penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration of a sex organ by another person, without the consent of the victim; may also include penetration of the mouth by a sex organ by another person. This also includes corrective rape, defined as a crime in which someone is raped because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Stalking
As defined as an individual experiencing at least one of the behaviors listed below on at least two separate occasions. In addition, the individuals must have feared for their safety or that of a family member as a result of the course of conduct, or have experienced additional threatening behaviors that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking behaviors include making unwanted phone calls; sending unsolicited or unwanted letters or e-mails; following or spying on the victim; showing up at places without a legitimate reason; waiting at places for the victim; leaving unwanted items, presents, or flowers; and posting information or spreading rumors about the victim on the Internet/social media, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
Violation of a Court (Protective) Order
As defined by state or jurisdiction and occurs when an abuser/controller/criminal violates the stay away order granted to the crime victim.

Services Provided Definition List

Batterer Education or Batterer Intervention
Organization/agency is able to provide abuser counseling, or counseling that concentrates on the person who commits the crime. Agencies may provide services for those who have been court-mandated to attend intervention trainings.
Children, Youth and Family Services
Organization/agency is able to provide services that are geared towards multiple generations, families with children, services that reunite families, childcare, school resources for kids re-entering school and child custody cases.
Counseling/Mental Health/Emotional Assistance
Organization/agency is able to provide in-person crisis intervention, emotional support, and guidance and counseling provided by advocates, counselors, mental health professionals, or peers; traditional healing ceremonies; culturally specific support groups. Such counseling may occur at the scene of a crime or immediately after a crime or be provided on an ongoing basis.
Domestic Violence Response Services
Organization/agency is able to provide wraparound services to victims of domestic violence. Services include, but are not limited to: services to 24 hotline answered by answering service or advocate; 24 hour outreach and accompaniment; assistance with filing for protection orders; referral to emergency and long term shelter services; one to one emotional support; legal advocacy; housing assistance.
Employment and Education Services
Organization/agency is able to provide services that include, but not limited to job training and placement, GED/education assistance, higher education opportunities, etc.
Financial Assistance
Organization/agency is able to provide services to the victim that result in a financial or material benefit. Financial or material assistance may include, but not limited to assistance applying for crime victim compensation, or other emergency financial assistance; and assisting the victim with the return of their personal property or effects. Agencies may provide assistance in filing for or completing forms for victims compensation programs.
General Support Services
Organization/agency is able to provide fringe and support services including, but not limited to food services/pantries, Section 8 housing, childcare, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments.
Hotline/Information and Referrals
Organization/agency operates a hotline or helpline service, which provides counseling, guidance, emotional support, and/or information and referral.
Housing (Emergency/Short-Term)
Housing (Emergency/Short-Term) – Organization/agency is able to provide any facility with overnight sleeping accommodations. The primary purpose, of which, is to provide temporary shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of homeless persons. The length of stay can range depending on the shelter’s guidelines.
Housing (Long-Term/Transitional)
Organization/agency is able to provide housing and appropriate support services to homeless persons or crime victims to facilitate movement to independent living within months.
Legal or Justice-system Assistance
Organization/agency is able to provide support, assistance, and advocacy provided to victims at any stage of the criminal justice process, filing complaints, protection orders, divorce filing, human rights complaints, sexual harassment claims, or assistance in filing protective orders. This also includes civil legal representation by licensed attorneys, which may include court room advocacy, PPO filing, etc. – which may be provided by a non-lawyer advocate.
Medical/Health Assistance
Organization/agency is able to provide services intended to improve the treatment, identify, or improve the physical health of a victim. May include medical forensic exam or follow-up medical appointments, provided that the service is facilitated by an appropriately licensed professional.
Safety Planning
Organization/agency is able to provide guidelines for crime victims (generally domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking victims) that, if implemented, may reduce the odds of physical or emotional harm from a perpetrator.
Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Response Services
Organization/agency is able to provide wraparound services to victims of sexual assault. Services include, but are not limited to: 24 hour hotline answered by answering service or advocate; 24 hour outreach/accompaniment to hospital/clinic for forensic exams; support during exams; legal advocacy; support while filing criminal complaint; one to one emotional support; support for secondary victims.
Support Groups/Talking Circle
Organization/agency is able to provide victims with access to support groups or support activities that involves victims providing mutual support to one another through discussion or structured activities.
Traditional Healing Information and Referrals
Organization/agency is able to provide referrals to victims seeking traditional healing.
Transportation Services (Local)
Organization/agency is able to provide transport services either to or from a local victim service agency.
Transportation Services (Relocation)
Organization/agency is able to provide long-distance transport services or funds for transport services outside of a local service area for the purposes of relocation.
Victim Rights Advocacy (Non-direct services)
Organization/agency is able to provide support to a victim or group of victims by engaging in activities designed to result in change to the criminal justice, civil justice, or other systems of justice. Organization/agencies may also coordinate volunteer activities.
Other
Please select if services provided do not fit within a selection above. Please list the services not included above.

Genders Served Definition List

Female

The crime victim identifies as female.

Male

The crime victim identifies as male.

Trans*

The crime victim identifies as trans*.

Gender non-binary

The crime victim identifies as gender non-binary.