🧭 Rights of victims of crime at a glance
In brief
As an injured party or victim (Verletzter/Verletzte) of a crime – the legal term used in the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO) – you have your own rights in criminal proceedings, even if you are not the one bringing the case. These include a right to information about the progress of the proceedings (§ 406d StPO), a right to inspect the files through a lawyer (§ 406e StPO) and a right to be assisted by legal counsel (§ 406f StPO). People who are particularly vulnerable are also entitled to early, comprehensible information about support services (§ 406i StPO).
These pages are aimed at people who have experienced a crime in general – for example assault, robbery, theft, fraud, coercion, stalking or offences on the internet – regardless of whether the offender is known and regardless of their relationship to the offender. Incidents within a partnership or family are covered in more detail in the separate guide “Domestic violence”, which goes deeper into additional civil-law protection measures (Protection against Violence Act, removal orders) and services specific to women. People who are themselves accused of a crime will find the relevant information in the guide for accused and convicted persons – these pages here take the perspective of the injured person only.
Step by step
- Safety firstGet to safety and, in case of acute danger, call the police (110) or the ambulance service (112).
- Report the offenceA criminal complaint can be filed at any police station or with the public prosecutor's office – also later, see “Criminal complaint and securing evidence”.
- Know your rightsYou are entitled to information about the proceedings, to inspect the files through a lawyer and, in suitable cases, to free psychosocial trial support.
- Look for supportAdvice centres such as WEISSER RING help regardless of the outcome of criminal proceedings – even if no report is filed.
- Check your claimsDepending on the offence, social compensation (SGB XIV), compensation for pain and suffering or compensation as a witness may be possible.
Deadlines
- Being an “injured party” within the meaning of the StPO does not require the offender to be convicted – the rights exist already during the investigation stage.
- These pages do not replace the specialised services for people affected by domestic violence (see guide “Domestic violence”) and are not aimed at accused persons.
- Not every offence obliges the police to inform you of your rights on their own initiative if no investigation has been opened – ask actively, in particular about free advice.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Legal basis: the Victims' Rights Reform Act and the EU Victims' Rights Directive
Today's victims' rights in the Code of Criminal Procedure largely go back to several reform acts, most recently the Third Victims' Rights Reform Act of 2015, which, among other things, implemented EU Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. Since then, rights such as psychosocial trial support (§§ 406g, 406h StPO) and extended information rights (§ 406d, § 406i StPO) have been expressly anchored in law.
Injured party vs. joint plaintiff vs. witness
The StPO distinguishes several roles that can overlap: The injured party is the person whose rights were directly affected by the offence and the holder of the rights under §§ 406d ff. StPO. The joint plaintiff (Nebenkläger, §§ 395 ff. StPO) is an injured party who takes an active part in the criminal proceedings for certain more serious offences (see “Joint plaintiff status”). Injured parties are as a rule questioned as witnesses anyway, regardless of whether they join as joint plaintiffs.
Distinction from domestic violence and from the perspective of the accused
Offences within current or former partnerships and families raise additional questions (Protection against Violence Act, removal orders by the police, staying in the shared home), which the guide “Domestic violence” covers in depth. These pages here focus on general crime and crime by people outside the family: offences of violence and against property committed by strangers or acquaintances outside the family, stalking and offences on the internet. People who are themselves accused or have committed an offence are not the target group here.
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.