Short Answer
The largest independent victim support association in Germany provides complimentary trauma counseling, police intake assistance, and legal aid vouchers. You can access an array of protective resources without navigating the complex state judicial infrastructure on your own.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You were the victim of a street robbery and spent months navigating the trial process alone while paying out of pocket for emotional support services. The state court system focused entirely on the statutory evaluation of the defendant, leaving you to feel completely forgotten during the hearings. You lost €1,200 on private therapy sessions because you didn't know a dedicated support network provided these rehabilitation services entirely for free.
What To Do
- Call the national multilingual helpline at 116 006 to connect with a localized case manager.
- Ask your assigned support representative to accompany you to the physical courtroom as a formal prosecution assistant.
- "Ich brauche Unterstützung als Opfer einer Straftat." (I need support as a victim of a crime.) — state this to the organization to unlock immediate advisory resources.
The Truth
The German justice system focuses heavily on the rights of the accused. Weisser Ring exists to balance the scales and provide the emotional and financial support the state misses.