also, here is the link to trade secrets rights and responsibilities section- about 1/2way down is a section on what to expect if you are the victim of a crime.
http://tradesecretsguide.blogspot.com/search/label/Our Rights and Responsibilities
Help is Available
If you are a sex industry worker and have been the victim of a crime, YOU DO QUALIFY FOR SUPPORT and YOU DO HAVE RIGHTS. No matter what you are told to the contrary, help is available through VictimLINK and the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Sex industry workers may feel frustrated when dealing with the criminal justice system after being a victim of crime. As sex industry workers we often experience added trauma as we are judged or devalued because of our occupation and the prejudices of others during the process. Lack of education and understanding has made it difficult for sex industry workers to access Victim Services and the supports that are available for ALL victims of crime.
The BC Government has programs created specifically for victims and the information has been included here to support you in accessing these programs. However, you should be prepared for delays as some barriers still exist.
The following information should assist you on your journey. Remember that you are strong, you are powerful and resourceful. No one and nothing can ever take that from you.
Dealing with the after-effects of Violence
If you have been the victim of a serious crime it is very normal to feel
Overwhelmed
Depressed
Anger or rage
Fear
Confusion
Numbness
Shame
Powerlessness
Or do things like:
Use drugs or alcohol to cope and/ or forget
Go back to work
Take greater risks
Withdraw and isolate
What can I expect to experience personally?
People experience a wide range of physical and emotional changes over a short period of time while others experience feelings long after the crime has taken place. You may find that your reaction will change from day to day or from week to week.
Victims of crime have some common experiences. For example you may feel just fine and then suddenly you break down and feelings of powerlessness, rage or sadness return. During these times remember that the feelings will pass.
Triggers
Triggers are things that cause physical, mental, or emotional changes within us such as a certain smell, sound, place, or person.
When the intensity of these feelings has passed, identify any particular smells, touch, place, and/or sound that may have set off the intense feelings and reminders of the crime.
Getting a sense of your triggers can help you avoid situations where you may encounter them. Involvement in the sex industry can mean that you will HAVE to return to places and situations that may trigger you. If you plan to return to work in the sex industry, it is wise to develop a plan to help you cope.
Returning to work
Sex workers often have to return to the scene of the crime in order to continue to earn their living.
Where possible, try to make a return to work safety plan with a friend or a sex worker advocate that addresses any fears you may have and will help you plan in advance how to handle being triggered should it occur. You may want to create your own self-care plan; rituals and routines that make you feel safer.
Creating a self-care safety plan and making it a daily routine in your life will also help you cope with returning to work.
Self Care
Self-care is not just a tool for victims of crime but for every human being. Creating a strong self-care plan keeps you healthy and increases your resiliency (ability to ‘spring back’).
What should you do if you are the victim of a crime?
There are many things to consider if you have been the victim of a crime. Your physical and emotional health is at risk and the decisions you make can impact your life for years to come.
The filling out of police reports and proceeding with criminal charges can be a difficult and painful process and as a sex worker you may even encounter people who are insensitive in their handling of your case.
Details of your private life may become public and your privacy compromised. The consequences of being “outed” as a sex worker can affect many aspects of your life both personally and professionally.
So Why Report?
The safety of other sex workers depends on the prosecution of the people who commit crimes against us. Choosing to go forward with criminal charges will protect other sex workers from experiencing the crime that you have. Proceeding with charges can also change the way society and the justice system handles our cases.
You will have to be strong as well as patient but you don’t have to be alone. An important step in dealing with the effects of a crime is to talk about it with someone you feel comfortable with. Friends and family can be a great source of support and if you are uncomfortable with talking to someone you know, VictimLINK (see resource section) can put you in touch with over 150 victim service programs across the province. They can also connect you with a sex worker serving organization who can try to answer any questions you may have in regard to the risks and benefits of filing criminal charges.