victimcentered

Victim-centered, or victim-centered, refers to an approach that prioritizes the safety, rights, and needs of victims in processes across criminal justice, health care, social services, and research. The term signals a shift away from an emphasis on offenders or systems toward the experiences and well-being of those harmed.

Core principles commonly associated with a victim-centered approach include safety and stabilization, empowerment and choice, participation and voice, respect and dignity, confidentiality and informed consent, accessibility and culturally sensitive practice, and the use of trauma-informed methods. Practitioners aim to minimize re-traumatization and to ensure that victims are informed, supported, and able to influence decisions that affect them.

In practice, a victim-centered approach guides behavior and policy in several domains. In the criminal justice system, it emphasizes timely communication with victims, access to advocacy and support services, options for restitution where appropriate, and opportunities for victims to provide input while balancing legal rights and due process. In health care and social services, it promotes trauma-informed care, priority attention to safety planning, and services designed to respect victims’ cultural and linguistic needs. In restorative justice, victim-centered processes focus on addressing harm, giving victims a meaningful role, and ensuring accountability while safeguarding their well-being.

Critics note challenges in implementing a consistently victim-centered model, including resource constraints, potential conflicts with offender rights or public safety, and the risk of overgeneralizing needs across diverse victim populations. Nonetheless, the approach remains influential in shaping policies and practices intended to honor victims’ experiences and agency. Variants of the term are often written with different punctuation, such as victim-centered or victim centered.