# I have become the victim of an offence: victim support You, or someone close to you, have become the victim of an offence – for example violence, a sexual offence, a serious threat, or an accident caused by someone else. This guide shows what free advice, what financial help, and what rights in the criminal proceedings you are entitled to as a victim or as a close relation – regardless of whether the perpetrator has been found or convicted, or whether you have reported the offence. This guide covers: Who counts as a victim or as a close relation under the Victim Support Act; free and confidential advice; financial help (damages and satisfaction) with its requirements, maximum amounts and time limits; key victim rights in the criminal proceedings such as information, being accompanied, protection from encountering the accused, and particular rights for offences against sexual integrity. Not covered: How to file a criminal complaint or how criminal proceedings work in detail; civil-law steps outside the victim support procedure; protective measures for domestic violence such as a no-contact or exclusion order, and how to conduct yourself at a police examination hearing – separate guides cover these. Cantonal details of the individual advice centres are not listed. ## Your answers - Were you yourself harmed by the offence, or are you a close relation of an affected person? (I was myself affected / I am a close relation of an affected person / I don't know) - Does this concern an offence against sexual integrity (for example sexual coercion, rape, sexual harassment)? (Yes / No / I don't know) - Was the offence committed in Switzerland or abroad? (In Switzerland / Abroad / I don't know) - Are criminal proceedings already under way, for example because you or someone else has reported the offence? (Yes, proceedings are under way / No, there are no proceedings yet / I don't know) ## Watch out If you – or, as a close relation, the victim – contributed to causing or worsening the harm, the cantonal authority can reduce or entirely refuse the damages or satisfaction. If you live abroad, satisfaction can also be adjusted, that is, reduced, to reflect the cost of living there. Sources: [OHG · Art. 27](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_27) A time limit applies to damages and satisfaction: you have five years from the offence – or, if you only learned of it later, from that later point – to submit an application to the competent cantonal authority; if you submit it later, your claim lapses. If you or your close relations asserted civil claims in time in the criminal proceedings, an additional one-year time limit runs from the final decision on those claims or from the discontinuation of the criminal proceedings. For certain serious offences against a child under 16 – such as sexual acts with children, homicide, serious assault or human trafficking – and for attempted murder of a child under 16, the victim can submit the application up to the completed age of 25. If in doubt, do not wait: ask an advice centre early which time limit applies to you. Sources: [OHG · Art. 25](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_25), [StGB · Art. 97](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_97) If the offence was committed abroad, you receive help from the advice centres only if you – and, for close relations, also the victim – were resident in Switzerland both at the time of the offence and when applying, and only if the state where the offence was committed provides no help, or insufficient help. Damages or satisfaction under Swiss victim support law are, however, not available for offences committed abroad. Clarify with the advice centre what help is possible in the state where the offence occurred, or through your insurance. *Applies if: Was the offence committed in Switzerland or abroad? → Abroad / I don't know* Sources: [OHG · Art. 3](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_3), [OHG · Art. 17](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_17) ## What to do **1.** You submit the application for damages or satisfaction to the authority of the canton in which the offence was committed; if it was committed in several places, the canton in which the criminal investigation was first opened has jurisdiction, and, if there is no criminal investigation, your canton of residence. The cantons must offer a simple and swift procedure and establish the facts on their own initiative. If you need money immediately and the consequences of the offence cannot yet be reliably assessed in the short term, you can apply for an advance on the damages. The advice centre helps you fill in the application. Sources: [OHG · Art. 26](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_26), [OHG · Art. 29](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_29), [OHG · Art. 21](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_21) **2.** If you want to take part in the criminal proceedings as a criminal or civil claimant (private claimant), you must declare this to the police or the public prosecutor at the latest by the close of the preliminary proceedings; a criminal complaint already counts as such a declaration. If you do not come forward yourself, the public prosecutor must draw your attention to this as soon as it opens the preliminary proceedings. You can declare in writing or orally for the record, at any time, that you waive your rights; this waiver is final and, unless expressly limited, covers both the criminal and the civil claim. *Applies if: Are criminal proceedings already under way, for example because you or someone else has reported the offence? → Yes, proceedings are under way / I don't know* Sources: [StPO · Art. 118](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_118), [StPO · Art. 120](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_120) ## The law You count as a victim if an offence has directly harmed your physical, psychological or sexual integrity – for example through an assault, a serious threat, a sexual act against your will, or a road accident for which another person is criminally responsible. A purely financial offence, such as theft, is not enough on its own. Close relations of the victim – a spouse, children, parents, and other people similarly close to them – are likewise entitled to victim support, for example if a close relation was killed. This right exists regardless of whether the perpetrator has been identified or convicted, whether they acted wilfully or negligently, and whether a criminal complaint has been filed at all. Sources: [OHG · Art. 1](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_1) The cantons provide advice centres for victim support. They advise you and your close relations and help you exercise your rights, for example towards the police, the public prosecutor or an insurer. You can approach an advice centre of your choice, regardless of which canton the offence was committed in. The cantons ensure that you receive emergency assistance for your most urgent needs within a reasonable time; longer-term assistance follows afterwards if needed, until your state of health has stabilised and the other consequences of the offence have as far as possible been dealt with. You can claim this help regardless of when the offence was committed. Advice, emergency assistance and longer-term assistance from the advice centre are free of charge for you and your close relations. Sources: [OHG · Art. 12](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_12), [OHG · Art. 13](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_13), [OHG · Art. 15](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_15), [OHG · Art. 9](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_9), [OHG · Art. 5](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_5) Staff at the advice centre must keep confidential what you tell them, towards both authorities and private parties; this duty continues even after they stop working there. They may only pass on information with your consent. An exception applies if a minor child or an adult under a general deputyship is seriously endangered in their physical, psychological or sexual integrity: in that case, the advice centre may inform the child and adult protection authority or itself file a criminal complaint. Sources: [OHG · Art. 11](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_11) Besides advice, victim support law provides for two kinds of financial benefit. Damages replace part of the financial loss caused by the harm to, or death of, the victim, for example medical costs, loss of earnings or funeral costs; purely material damage to property is not covered. Satisfaction is a sum of money for the psychological suffering you have endured; you are entitled to it if the severity of the harm justifies it, and, unlike damages, it does not depend on your income. Both claims are available to the victim and to their close relations. Sources: [OHG · Art. 19](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_19), [OHG · Art. 22](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_22) Damages and satisfaction are subsidiary: the canton only pays definitively if the perpetrator or another liable person or insurer makes no payment, or an insufficient one. If you apply for one of these benefits, you must generally show it credible that this requirement is met, unless, given the particular circumstances, it would not be reasonable to expect you to pursue payment from third parties. The advice centre can help you clarify claims against insurers or the perpetrator. Sources: [OHG · Art. 4](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_4) The police and the public prosecutor must inform you comprehensively of your rights and duties in the criminal proceedings at the first examination hearing – in particular about the addresses and tasks of the advice centres, the possible victim support benefits, and the time limit for applications for damages and satisfaction. With your consent, they pass on your name and address to an advice centre. This duty to inform applies correspondingly to your close relations. Sources: [StPO · Art. 305](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_305) In all procedural steps you may be accompanied by a person of your trust, in addition to your legal representative. If you ask for it, the criminal justice authorities avoid a meeting between you and the accused, for example at an examination hearing, and ensure in some other way that the accused can still be heard. The criminal justice authorities must safeguard your personality rights throughout the proceedings. Sources: [StPO · Art. 152](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_152) If you are the victim of an offence against sexual integrity, you can ask to be examined by a person of the same sex. A confrontation with the accused against your will is only permitted if their right to be heard cannot be safeguarded in any other way. You may also refuse in any case to answer questions concerning your intimate sphere, regardless of whether you would otherwise be obliged to testify. *Applies if: Does this concern an offence against sexual integrity (for example sexual coercion, rape, sexual harassment)? → Yes / I don't know* Sources: [StPO · Art. 153](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_153), [StPO · Art. 169](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_169) As a close relation, you have your own rights in the criminal proceedings: if you yourself assert civil claims – for example damages or satisfaction for the death or injury of the victim – you have the same particular rights as the victim, for example to protection of your personality, to be accompanied by a person of your trust, and to be informed by the authorities. *Applies if: Were you yourself harmed by the offence, or are you a close relation of an affected person? → I am a close relation of an affected person / I don't know* Sources: [StPO · Art. 117](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_117) ## Costs Damages cover your loss in full if your assessable income does not exceed a certain threshold, and proportionately if it is up to four times that threshold; above that, no damages are paid. They amount to at most CHF 130,000; if the calculated amount would be less than CHF 500, nothing is paid out. Satisfaction amounts to at most CHF 76,000 for the victim and at most CHF 38,000 for close relations; any satisfaction you have already received from third parties is deducted. The competent cantonal authority calculates the exact amount for your case. Sources: [OHG · Art. 20](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_20), [OHG · Art. 23](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_23) Proceedings before the administrative and judicial authorities for advice, emergency assistance, longer-term assistance, damages and satisfaction are free of charge for you and your close relations. An exception applies only if you litigate wantonly, that is, make applications that are obviously hopeless or querulous. You do not have to repay the costs of a court-appointed lawyer. Sources: [OHG · Art. 30](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_30) ## Advice For serious harm, if the perpetrator disputes the loss, if several cantons or countries are involved, or if damages or satisfaction are refused or reduced, personal legal advice is worthwhile. The victim support advice centre can offer you practical support and refer you to a specialist lawyer; the costs of this may, in certain circumstances, be shared by victim support. ## Help The national victim support number 142 can be reached around the clock, free of charge and confidentially, anonymously if you wish. At opferhilfe-schweiz.ch you can also find the advice centre for your canton, with its address and opening hours. You do not need to have filed a report to call, and you can get in touch even if you do not yet know whether you want to take legal steps. In an acute emergency, call the police on 117, or, if there is a danger to health, the medical emergency number on 144. Both numbers can be reached around the clock free of charge. ## Sources - [OHG · Art. 1](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_1) - [OHG · Art. 3](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_3) - [OHG · Art. 4](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_4) - [OHG · Art. 11](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_11) - [OHG · Art. 12](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_12) - [OHG · Art. 13](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_13) - [OHG · Art. 15](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_15) - [OHG · Art. 17](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_17) - [OHG · Art. 19](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_19) - [OHG · Art. 20](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_20) - [OHG · Art. 21](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_21) - [OHG · Art. 22](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_22) - [OHG · Art. 23](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_23) - [OHG · Art. 25](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_25) - [OHG · Art. 26](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_26) - [OHG · Art. 27](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_27) - [OHG · Art. 29](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_29) - [OHG · Art. 30](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_30) - [StGB · Art. 97](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/de#art_97) - [StPO · Art. 117](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_117) - [StPO · Art. 118](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_118) - [StPO · Art. 120](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_120) - [StPO · Art. 152](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_152) - [StPO · Art. 153](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_153) - [StPO · Art. 169](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_169) - [StPO · Art. 305](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2010/267/de#art_305) - [OHG · Art. 9](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_9) - [OHG · Art. 5](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/232/de#art_5) ## Official information - [Victim Support Switzerland – find an advice centre](https://www.opferhilfe-schweiz.ch/de/wo-finde-ich-hilfe/) - [Federal Office of Justice – victim support](https://www.bj.admin.ch/de/opferhilfe) --- Statute texts checked on 29 September 2026. General legal information. It does not replace individual advice. https://swisslaw.io/en/protection/victim-support/ · swisslaw.io, protection.victim-support, 2026-09-29 · CC BY 4.0