I am a victim of crime. Who do I contact for support and assistance?
Victim support helpline
The national support helpline for victims of crime and minor offences (116-006) provides emotional support, information on victim’s rights and guidance as to which bodies and organisations can provide further information, assistance and support.
The helpline is a freephone service,
available in Croatian and English, weekdays from 8.00 to 20.00.
The national support helpline for victims of crime and minor offences (116-006) is a general support service.
More information is available on: http://pzs.hr/
Other specialised civil society organisations also provide support and assistance to victims of certain crimes and to children via telephone. More information and the list of these organisations by county is available on the website of the Croatian Ministry of Justice.
List of organisations providing nationwide psychosocial and legal assistance:
| 116 006 |
National support helpline for victims of crime and minor offences |
Weekdays 8.00-20.00 |
| 116 000 |
National missing children hotline Centre for missing and abused children |
24/7 |
| 116 111 |
Hrabri telefon children helpline |
Weekdays 9.00-20.00 |
| 0800 0800 |
Hrabri telefon parents helpline |
Weekdays 9.00-20.00 |
| 0800 77 99 |
Human trafficking emergency number |
Every day, 10.00-18.00 |
| 0800 55 44 |
Counselling centre for women victims of violence Zagreb women’s shelter |
Weekdays 11.00-17.00 |
| 0800 655 222 |
Emergency number for women and children victims of violence Ženska pomoć sada women’s helpline |
24/7 |
| 0800 200 144 |
B.a.B.e. a free legal assistance for victims of domestic violence |
Weekdays 9.00-15.00 |
| 01 6119 444 |
Support centre for victims of sexual violence Ženska soba sexual rights centre |
Weekdays 10.00-17.00 |
| 01 48 28 888 |
Psychological assistance TESA centre for psychological assistance |
Weekdays 10.00-22.00 |
| 01 48 33 888 |
Blue Phone |
Weekdays 9.00-21.00 |
| 01 4811 320 |
Free legal aid Legal Clinic of the University of Law |
Weekdays 10.00-12.00, Wed and Thu 17.00-19.00 |
Is victim support free?
Yes.
What types of support can I receive from state services or authorities?
Victim and witness support departments provide:
- emotional support;
- information on rights;
- technical and practical information for victims, witnesses and their family members;
- referrals to specialised civil society institutions and organisations depending on the needs of the victim/witness.
The victim and witness support departments of county courts provide:
| VICTIM AND WITNESS SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS |
| Osijek County Court |
Address: |
Europska avenija 7, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
031 228 500 |
| Email: |
podrska-svjedocima@zsos.pravosudje.hr |
| Rijeka County Court |
Address: |
Žrtava fašizma 7, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
051 355 645 |
| Email: |
podrska-svjedocima-ri@pravosudje.hr |
| Sisak County Court |
Address: |
Trg Ljudevita Posavskog 5, 44000 Sisak, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
044 524 419 |
| Email: |
podrska-svjedocima-sk@zssk.pravosudje.hr |
| Split County Court |
Address: |
Gundulićeva 29a, 21000 Split, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
021 387 543 |
| Email: |
podrska-svjedocima-st@pravosudje.hr |
| Vukovar County Court |
Address: |
Županijska 33, 32000 Vukovar, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
032 452 529 |
| Email: |
podrska-svjedocima-vu@pravosudje.hr |
| Zadar County Court |
Address: |
Borelli 9, 23 000 Zadar, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
023 203 640 |
| Email: |
podrska-svjedocima@pravosudje.hr |
| Zagreb County Court |
Address: |
Trg N.Š. Zrinskog 5, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia |
| Tel.: |
01 4801 062 |
The Independent Victim and Witness Service of the Croatian Ministry of Justice provides information on rights and emotional support in addition to specific information relating to victim and witness support. Support is also provided to victims and witnesses invited to give evidence in Croatian courts through the international legal assistance mechanism, and to Croatian victims and witnesses invited to give evidence in foreign courts through said mechanism. The Independent Service sends victims and witnesses information letters with contact information, and informs them of the offender’s release from prison (automatic and conditional release). It is also responsible for determining the level of financial compensation awarded to victims of crime.
What types of support can I receive from non-governmental organisations?
Depending on the type of organisation and its remit, various types of assistance and support are available: psychological, emotional, legal, practical, accommodation, medical, security, and in-court support.
More information and the list of these organisations by county is available on the website of the Croatian Ministry of Justice.
Twelve probation offices are in the process of being established in Croatia. The purpose is to add a human dimension to the enforcement of criminal sanctions, ensure a more efficient reintegration of offenders into society, and provide victims, injured parties and their respective families with assistance.
The National Probation Service will participate in preparations to resettle offenders in the community after they have been released from prison. This includes helping them to find accommodation and work and preparing them, as well as the victim(s), injured party(ies) and their family(ies), for the offender’s release. The Service also makes arrangements for the provision of psychosocial support to victims, injured parties and the victims’ and offender’s families.
Where the offender to be released is serving a sentence for a sexual offence, an offence against life and limb or a violent offence, the Probation Service is required to inform the victim(s), injured party(ies), and their family(ies) in an appropriate manner and without delay.
The contact details of individual probation offices and the Probation Department of the Ministry of Justice are available here.
Victims of crime can contact the police by email policija@mup.hr or prevencija@mup.hr, or by dialling 192 (24/7) or +385 1 3788 111.
