🧭 Wegweiser Victims of crime
How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the In brief section in plain language. Below that you will find the key deadlines, typical mistakes and an expandable specialist section, “In depth”, for advisory work with legal bases and figures.
As of September 2026. Where a piece of information could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources (e.g. individual deadlines or practical values), this is expressly noted on the relevant page instead of guessing. The information does not replace legal advice.
Important phone numbers
- Immediate danger: police emergency number 110 (free of charge, reachable from mobile phones even without credit and without a PIN).
- Medical emergency: ambulance service 112.
- Round-the-clock advice for victims of crime: WEISSER RING victims' helpline (Opfer-Telefon) 116 006 – free of charge and anonymous, daily 7 am–10 pm (weisser-ring.de).
- Women affected by violence: “Violence against Women” helpline (Hilfetelefon) 116 016 – free of charge, anonymous, around the clock.
- Children and young people: “Nummer gegen Kummer” (helpline for children and young people) 116 111 (Mon–Sat 2–8 pm, free of charge).
Frequently searched
🚓 Criminal complaint and securing evidence
⚖️ Joint plaintiff status (Nebenklage): taking an active part in criminal proceedings as a victim
🤝 Psychosocial trial support
📋 Social compensation under SGB XIV
💶 Compensation for pain and suffering and damages
🚷 Stalking (Nachstellung, § 238 StGB)
💻 Victim protection for online offences
📞 Advice and points of contact
All topic areas
🧭Overview and basicsGetting started: your rights as a victim of a crime at a glance.1 topic
🚨First steps after the offenceReporting, securing evidence and the first hours and days.1 topic
⚖️Rights in criminal proceedingsJoint plaintiff status, trial support, witness protection, offender-victim mediation.5 topics
💶Compensation and financial helpSocial compensation, compensation for pain and suffering, witness compensation.2 topics
🛡️Particular types of offenceStalking and offences on the internet.2 topics
🩺Health and workTreatment costs, sick notes and continued pay.3 topics
📞Advice and points of contactWho helps with which concern.1 topic
🧭 Overview and basics
Getting started: your rights as a victim of a crime at a glance.
🚨 First steps after the offence
Reporting, securing evidence and the first hours and days.
⚖️ Rights in criminal proceedings
Joint plaintiff status, trial support, witness protection, offender-victim mediation.
⚖️Joint plaintiff status (Nebenklage): taking an active part in criminal proceedings as a victimFor certain serious offences you can join the criminal proceedings as a joint plaintiff and take an active part, instead of being just a witness.
🧑⚖️Witness counsel and legal representationEven as a witness you may be accompanied by a lawyer. For serious offences, legal representation as a joint plaintiff is even appointed at the state's expense.
🤝Psychosocial trial supportPsychosocial trial support (psychosoziale Prozessbegleitung) supports victims of serious offences free of charge before, during and after the main hearing – independently of legal representation.
🤲Offender-victim mediation (Täter-Opfer-Ausgleich)The public prosecutor's office and the court are to examine at every stage of the proceedings whether a settlement between offender and victim is possible – voluntary and only with your consent.
🛡️Victim and witness protection at the main hearingThe law provides several instruments to protect victims when giving evidence at the main hearing – from video examination to exclusion of the public.
💶 Compensation and financial help
Social compensation, compensation for pain and suffering, witness compensation.
📋Social compensation under SGB XIVIf you suffered health damage through an intentional, unlawful physical attack, you can apply for social compensation benefits regardless of the outcome of criminal proceedings.
💶Compensation for pain and suffering and damagesIndependently of the criminal proceedings, you can claim compensation for pain and suffering (Schmerzensgeld) and damages from the offender under civil law – in the adhesion procedure (Adhäsionsverfahren) directly within the criminal trial, or by civil lawsuit.
🛡️ Particular types of offence
Stalking and offences on the internet.
🚷Stalking (Nachstellung, § 238 StGB)Repeatedly pursuing and harassing someone is a criminal offence as stalking (Nachstellung) – regardless of whether offender and victim know each other. Protection under criminal law and civil law can be combined.
💻Victim protection for online offencesInsult, threats, violations of image rights and fraud on the internet are criminal offences. There is a court-ordered right to information for identifying anonymous offenders.
🩺 Health and work
Treatment costs, sick notes and continued pay.
🏥Health insurance and treatment costsTreatment costs after a crime are initially covered as normal by your health insurance – regardless of whether and when the offender pays or is identified.
💼Continued pay during sick leave after a crimeIf you are signed off sick as unfit for work as a result of a crime, in principle the same rules on continued pay apply as for any other illness.
🧾Compensation as a witness (JVEG)For your time, travel costs and loss of earnings as a witness in court you are entitled to compensation under the JVEG – you have to apply for it.
📞 Advice and points of contact
Who helps with which concern.
For reference
📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages.
📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain.
🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.