Beneficial tips, instructions and guidance

Leaflets

Overview of all leaflets

Leaflets

What should you do if you are affected by hate or violence on the Internet?

Securing evidence -  Securing evidence on the Internet

Hate and violence on the Internet can take many forms, such as insult, threat, coercion or so-called cyberstalking. Statements of a certain kind may also constitute incitement to hatred, or they may incite others to commit criminal offences, or threaten or condone the commission of criminal offences. The Internet is not a lawless space. Criminal offences committed online are also prosecuted and punished.

What should you do if someone is stalking you?

Stalking

Stalking is a crime. Those affected do not have to tolerate being stalked, and there are many possibilities to take action against it.

Extremist assaults: What should you do?

Zwei Männer sitzen an einem Tisch und reden

Extremist attacks include attacks motivated by right-wing or left-wing extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-ziganistism. Victims suffer bodily injury, criminal damage to property, grave insults or threats. Extremist offences can also be expressed in the form of hate speech on the Internet.

What should you do if you are affected by hate or violence on the Internet?

Securing evidence -  Securing evidence on the Internet

Hate and violence on the Internet can take many forms, such as insult, threat, coercion or so-called cyberstalking. Statements of a certain kind may also constitute incitement to hatred, or they may incite others to commit criminal offences, or threaten or condone the commission of criminal offences. The Internet is not a lawless space. Criminal offences committed online are also prosecuted and punished.

What should you do if someone is stalking you?

Stalking

Stalking is a crime. Those affected do not have to tolerate being stalked, and there are many possibilities to take action against it.

Extremist assaults: What should you do?

Zwei Männer sitzen an einem Tisch und reden

Extremist attacks include attacks motivated by right-wing or left-wing extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-ziganistism. Victims suffer bodily injury, criminal damage to property, grave insults or threats. Extremist offences can also be expressed in the form of hate speech on the Internet.

What should you do after a break-in?

Help Act on Protection against Violence - Introduction

After a break-in, no changes should be made to the crime scene. That’s the only way for the police to secure evidence of the criminal offence and to identify the perpetrator.

What should you do when you have become the victim of bodily injury?

Protection

Persons who have suffered bodily injury can experience more than just physical consequences. Oftentimes, they also suffer emotional burdens.

What should you do if you have become a victim of fraud or theft?

Criminal proceeding - Investigative proceedings

Fraud or theft can result in major financial damage. This makes it all the more important to be alert and to look for help at an early stage.

What should you do after a break-in?

Help Act on Protection against Violence - Introduction

After a break-in, no changes should be made to the crime scene. That’s the only way for the police to secure evidence of the criminal offence and to identify the perpetrator.

What should you do when you have become the victim of bodily injury?

Protection

Persons who have suffered bodily injury can experience more than just physical consequences. Oftentimes, they also suffer emotional burdens.

What should you do if you have become a victim of fraud or theft?

Criminal proceeding - Investigative proceedings

Fraud or theft can result in major financial damage. This makes it all the more important to be alert and to look for help at an early stage.

Who has to pay for what in court cases?

Support in criminal proceedings - Costs of proceedings

Court proceedings cost money. However, victims, other affected persons and witnesses do not have to pay anything for the proceedings as such. As far as lawyer’s fees are concerned, this could be different.

Investigative proceedings

Criminal proceeding - Investigative proceedings

An investigative proceeding begins as soon as the police or the public prosecutor's office become aware of a criminal offence, and it ends when the accused is charged with the relevant offence before a court or when the investigative proceeding is discontinued.

Know how the case is progressing

Support in criminal proceedings - Right to inspect files and to information

If you have been affected by a crime, you have a right to receive certain information. Here you can find out what information you can get and how to get it.

Who has to pay for what in court cases?

Support in criminal proceedings - Costs of proceedings

Court proceedings cost money. However, victims, other affected persons and witnesses do not have to pay anything for the proceedings as such. As far as lawyer’s fees are concerned, this could be different.

Investigative proceedings

Criminal proceeding - Investigative proceedings

An investigative proceeding begins as soon as the police or the public prosecutor's office become aware of a criminal offence, and it ends when the accused is charged with the relevant offence before a court or when the investigative proceeding is discontinued.

Know how the case is progressing

Support in criminal proceedings - Right to inspect files and to information

If you have been affected by a crime, you have a right to receive certain information. Here you can find out what information you can get and how to get it.

What should you do if you have been sexually assaulted?

Overview leaflets

The will of the person affected is at the core of the protection afforded under criminal law. Any person who performs a sexual act against another person’s will incurs criminal liability.

Extremist assaults: What should you do?

Zwei Männer sitzen an einem Tisch und reden

Extremist attacks include attacks motivated by right-wing or left-wing extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-ziganistism. Victims suffer bodily injury, criminal damage to property, grave insults or threats. Extremist offences can also be expressed in the form of hate speech on the Internet.

Rights and obligations of witnesses

Witness - Rights and obligations of witnesses

Persons summoned by a court as witnesses have certain rights. Of course, witnesses also have obligations – in particular the obligation to tell the truth.

What should you do if you have been sexually assaulted?

Overview leaflets

The will of the person affected is at the core of the protection afforded under criminal law. Any person who performs a sexual act against another person’s will incurs criminal liability.

Extremist assaults: What should you do?

Zwei Männer sitzen an einem Tisch und reden

Extremist attacks include attacks motivated by right-wing or left-wing extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-ziganistism. Victims suffer bodily injury, criminal damage to property, grave insults or threats. Extremist offences can also be expressed in the form of hate speech on the Internet.

Rights and obligations of witnesses

Witness - Rights and obligations of witnesses

Persons summoned by a court as witnesses have certain rights. Of course, witnesses also have obligations – in particular the obligation to tell the truth.

What should you do when you have been affected by a terrorist offence?

Overview leaflets

Terrorist offences are directed against the state. However, they may affect each and every one of us. In becoming victims, those affected represent society as a whole.

What should you do if you are affected by trafficking in human beings?

Overview leaflets

The Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB) protects the personal freedom of every individual and criminalises various situations referred to as “trafficking in human beings” or “exploitation.”

Filing a criminal complaint

Criminal proceeding - Criminal complaint

Anyone who is affected by a crime or becomes a witness to a crime can file a criminal complaint. You can find information on how to do this here.

What should you do when you have been affected by a terrorist offence?

Overview leaflets

Terrorist offences are directed against the state. However, they may affect each and every one of us. In becoming victims, those affected represent society as a whole.

What should you do if you are affected by trafficking in human beings?

Overview leaflets

The Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB) protects the personal freedom of every individual and criminalises various situations referred to as “trafficking in human beings” or “exploitation.”

Filing a criminal complaint

Criminal proceeding - Criminal complaint

Anyone who is affected by a crime or becomes a witness to a crime can file a criminal complaint. You can find information on how to do this here.

Help Assistant

We are here to help you. What topic would you like to know more about?

Choose from:

HinweisCookies

Cookies help us to provide our services. By using our website you agree that we can use cookies. Read more about our Privacy Policy and visit the following link: Privacy Policy