Are You Okay?

Introduction.; How to help a young person who has had a traumatic experience.; Section 1. ''What happened?'' The crimes and their consequences.; 1. The crimes.; 2. Indirect victimization or ''hidden harm''.; 3. Understanding the effects of crime and recognizing the signs.; Section 2. ''You are not alone''; stepping in to help.; 4. Raising the issue and responding well.; 5. Assessment, confidentiality and reporting.; Section 3. ''What will happen now?'' The criminal justice system.; 6. A swift navigation through the criminal justice system.; 7. Restorative approaches.; 8. The overlap between offending and victimization.; 9. Next steps.; Appendices.

This book provides a practical guide to supporting young people who have been victims of crime; from assault, bullying and robbery to sexual and physical abuse. The statistics used helpfully contextualise the young people's experiences, but most useful are the case studies showing how crimes against children can be dealt with effectively... The information is presented clearly without oversimplifying what are often complex issues, and without dichotomising ""victims"" and ""offenders"". Although aimed at practitioners, policy makers would do well to learn from this book as they look to reform the youth justice system, taking note of the need for early intervention and the use of restorative justice.