Regardless of whether the crime took place at home or in the street, it is important to immediately inform the police about the incident and preserve the scene and evidence as intact as possible. The fastest help is provided by the Police and Border Guard Board, and the Rescue Board. Crime victims can receive help from the specialists of the Victim Support Department of the National Social Insurance Board, and employees of local authorities. Emergency and information lines can you find in the Portal olevalmis.ee.
Criminal acts can be reported:
- by calling the alarm centre at 112
- by going to the closest police authority.
National victim support service
Victim Support Helpline number is 116 006 (24h, free of charge). If it is not possible to make a call or if you do not wish to discuss your concerns over the phone, please visit the website palunabi.ee, where victims can receive advice and ask for help via online-chat. Online victim counselling is also available around the clock.
National victim support centres are located in all major cities and free consultation is provided there. Victim support is for anyone who has suffered as a result of crime, violence or crisis.
Employees of the victim support service support and provide help even if the causer of physical, mental, or sexual violence is unknown. Employees of the victim support service provide emotional support, share information about the possibilities of getting help, and guide in communicating with other necessary authorities.
It is also possible to remain anonymous upon approaching victim support centres. However, applying for compensations and services requires submitting your personal data. Victim support centres ensure confidentiality to the people that approach them.
Mental health care for trauma recovery
A person who has been a victim of crime or violence may need a range of support to recover, including professional mental health care. If a person needs psychological counselling or psychotherapy to recover from the effects of a crime or violence they have experienced, they will be able to receive mental health care to support trauma recovery. This means that the costs of psychological care to victims of crime and violence and, where appropriate, to their family members are paid by the Social Insurance Board to a certain extent. As a general rule, the costs of the service are covered in the amount of one monthly minimum wage (820 euros in 2024); in certain cases, assistance is guaranteed until the need ceases to exist.
Mediation service
Mediation service is a restorative justice service that can be used for offences that are crimes of the second degree and for which there is no strong public interest. Mediation requires the voluntary consent of both the victim and the tortfeasor. The mediation procedure is referred to by a prosecutor or a judge and is carried out by the victim support workers of the Social Insurance Board.
When conducting mediation proceedings, the interests of the victim are taken into account. The aim of mediation procedure is to reach an agreement to compensate the victim for the damage caused by the crime. For this purpose, a written agreement is concluded between the parties. The perpetrator of the offence undertakes to make reparation for the offence, and the mediator monitors compliance.
You can learn more about the mediation service and the psychological assistance benefit on the website of the Social Insurance Board.
Human trafficking victims assistance service
The purpose of the support service for victims of human trafficking is to contribute to the victim’s sense of security, physical and psychosocial recovery, and to prevent re-victimisation. Read more about human trafficking here: https://www.palunabi.ee/en/human-trafficking
Women’s support centre service
Women’s support centres (shelters), where women who have been victims of violence can go with their children, are located in all counties. The support centre will provide them with a safe environment and counselling, as well as temporary accommodation if needed. You can learn more about the women’s support centre service on the website of the Social Security Board.
Sexual violence crisis support
In the event of sexual assault, rape, or suspicion of sexual assault, everyone has the right to seek assistance from the sexual violence crisis centre. Contact the centre if you have experienced sexual violence in the last seven days. Anyone can contact us, regardless of their gender or age. You can come alone or with an accompanying person. The centres are open 24 hours a day. A referral is not required. There is no requirement to contact the police for help.
Sexual violence crisis centres are located in four cities, near hospitals:
Emergency reception of the Women’s Clinic of the West Tallinn Central Hospital;
Ida-Viru Central Hospital;
Pärnu Hospital;
Tartu University Hospital
You can find contacts here: https://www.palunabi.ee/en/sexual-violence-crisis-support-centers
Support for stopping violent behaviour
Support for stopping violent behaviour aims to contribute to the prevention of violence and
deterrence through actions taken by the perpetrator of violence. The service provides counselling to adult perpetrators of domestic violence. The security, support, and human rights of victims are a priority in supporting stopping violent behaviour.
Counsellors who support stopping violent behaviour work across Estonia in four different regions (North, West, South, Ida-Virumaa and Lääne-Virumaa). Consultations are face-to-face with the client or online. The counsellor may refer the person motivated to stop violent behaviour to a provider of psychological help.
More information and contacts can be found here: https://www.palunabi.ee/en/supporting-non-violence
Compensation for the victim of a violent crime
If the victim has suffered serious damage to their health as a result of a violent crime and their income has been reduced as a result, or if they have incurred additional costs to restore their health, the state will pay compensation to them.
The aim of the compensation is to help the victim cope better economically with the situation.
If the victim has died as a result of a serious crime, the compensation is paid to their dependants. The funeral expenses of a crime victim are reimbursed to the person who actually incurred them, up to a fixed amount. Information about the amount of crime victim compensation, the conditions for granting it, and the documents required is available on the website of the Social Insurance Board. You can also find information in the article ‘Compensation of damage for crime victims’ on the state portal.
The State Portal eesti.ee does not provide legal assistance, European e-Justice portal provides information on justice systems.
More information about death of loved one can be found in article "What to do in the event of a death".
Related articles
- Compensation of damage for crime victims
- In case of a criminal offence
- What to do in the event of a death
References
- Contacts of specialists of the Victim Support
- Contact information of the Police and Border Guard Board
- Emergency and information lines
- To the victim of a crime
- For your own safety
- State legal aid
- The European e-Justice Portal