Making the decision to share your experience as a crime victim is deeply personal. While sharing can be empowering and may help others, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and the potential implications of making your story public. This knowledge helps ensure that you maintain control over your narrative and protect your wellbeing throughout the process.
Privacy is a cornerstone of victim rights. As defined by the Office for Victims of Crime, privacy refers to “a victim’s right to control disclosure of his or her story and personal information” (Office for Victims of Crime, 2024). This right acknowledges that you—not institutions, media outlets, or even well-meaning advocates—should determine how, when, and where your experience is shared.
The foundational principle is simple but powerful: your story belongs to you.
While related, confidentiality and privacy have distinct meanings that are important to understand:
Privacy is your personal right to control your information and story.
Confidentiality refers to the professional rules that prohibit those you’ve shared information with from disclosing it without your consent. As noted by the Office for Victims of Crime, “Maintaining privacy may directly reduce the chances of revictimization” (Office for Victims of Crime, 2024).
At the heart of your legal protections is the concept of informed consent. This means you should be fully informed about:
When working with victim service providers, media outlets, or advocacy organizations, you should expect clear, written consent processes that specify exactly what information will be shared and with whom.
Many states have laws protecting communications between victims and advocates. These protections vary by location but often include:
It’s important to ask any service provider about:
When considering sharing your story with media outlets, understand that:
The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics instructs journalists to “minimize harm” and “show compassion for those who may be affected by news coverage,” though practices vary among outlets (Society of Professional Journalists, 2014).
In the criminal justice system, privacy considerations include:
The digital realm presents unique challenges for privacy. The National Network to End Domestic Violence notes that once information is shared online, it can be difficult to control its spread or remove it entirely (NNEDV, 2016). Consider:
Before sharing online, consider creating a digital safety plan that might include:
When working with any organization to share your story, consider requesting a formal sharing agreement that outlines:
In some circumstances, sharing your story may have legal implications to consider:
If your case is currently moving through the legal system, consider consulting with a victim rights attorney or your victim advocate before sharing publicly.
Understanding your legal rights isn’t about limiting your voice—it’s about ensuring you can share your story safely, effectively, and on your own terms. As the Office for Victims of Crime emphasizes, “Best practice is allowing survivors to decide when, what information, and to whom their information is shared” (Office for Victims of Crime, 2014).
If you’re considering sharing your story:
Remember that understanding your rights is an ongoing process, and legal protections may evolve over time. Working with knowledgeable advocates can help ensure your voice is heard while your privacy and wellbeing remain protected.
National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2016). Why Privacy and Confidentiality Matters for Victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence. Retrieved from https://www.techsafety.org/privacymatters
Office for Victims of Crime. (2014). Strengthening Sexual Assault Victims’ Right to Privacy. Retrieved from https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/publications/infores/VictimsRightToPrivacy/pfv.html
Office for Victims of Crime. (2024). Maintaining Confidentiality. Retrieved from https://www.ovcttac.gov/taskforceguide/eguide/3-operating-a-task-force/32-information-sharing/maintaining-confidentiality/
Society of Professional Journalists. (2014). SPJ Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
U.S. Department of Justice. (2016). Crime Victims’ Rights Act. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/usao/resources/crime-victims-rights-ombudsman/victims-rights-act
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