The judicial bodies and any other State institutions with which you interact will provide you with information on the victim support services within the Directorates General for Social Work and Child Protection (Direcții Generale de Asistență Socială și Protecție a Copilului – DGASPCs) and the NGOs providing such services that you can contact.
You will receive that information both orally and in writing, by means of a form which you must sign and which includes at least the address of the victim support service within the jurisdiction of the institution providing the information and a list of its responsibilities.
The first judicial body (police/public prosecutor) you go to or, where appropriate, the victim support services, at the time of first contact, will inform you of your rights and the support and protection services that you can receive.
You will receive information on:
The information will be provided to you in a language that you can understand. You will also receive a form with all this information, which you must sign. You may be accompanied by a person of your choice when you first contact the authorities.
If you file a complaint with the judicial body, you will receive a written acknowledgment of your report. The complaint may be filed in writing or orally. You can also ask another person to report the crime for you, but you need to provide that person with a written power of attorney. The written power of attorney, which must be signed by you, will be attached to the case file.
If you are a foreigner and have been a victim of crime in Romania, you are entitled to all the rights of Romanian citizens who have been victims of crimes.
If you do not speak Romanian, you are entitled to an interpreter free of charge, who will assist you during your interaction with the authorities. This means that you will be able to file your complaint and receive the information you are entitled to at the time of reporting the crime in a language that you understand.
If you live in another Member State, you can file the criminal complaint or apply for financial compensation in that Member State. Furthermore, you can be heard by the Romanian judicial authorities without being present in Romania.
If you are a victim of human trafficking, you can receive accommodation in special shelters, where you will be protected. During the criminal proceedings, you will receive information about the proceedings in a language that you understand; you can also receive psychological counselling and medical assistance. The Romanian authorities will do their best to help you return to your home country as soon as possible and will provide secure transport to the Romanian border.
If you are a foreigner, you can claim financial compensation from the State if you have been the victim of any of the following crimes: attempted murder and attempted aggravated murder, as set out in Articles 188 and 189 of the Criminal Code; bodily injury, as set out in Article 194 of the Criminal Code; intentional crimes resulting in the victim's bodily injury, and domestic violence, as set out in Article 199 of the Criminal Code; rape, sexual intercourse with a minor or sexual assault, as set out in Articles 218 to 220 of the Criminal Code; human trafficking or child trafficking, as set out in Articles 210 and 211 of the Criminal Code, terrorism or any other intentional violent crime.
You can also receive vouchers designed to meet urgent needs, up to an amount equivalent to 5 gross national basic minimum wages.
‘Urgent needs’ relate to food, accommodation, transport, medicines and sanitary supplies, as well as hygiene and personal materials, expressed explicitly or implicitly, the absence of which may negatively affect your immediate interests.
Requests may be submitted to the Committee for Financial Compensation to Victims of Crime at the Bucharest Court.
You are also entitled to free legal assistance if you have been a victim of attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder, bodily injury, an intentional crime resulting in bodily injury, rape, sexual assault, sexual intercourse with a minor or sexual corruption of minors. The spouse, the children and dependants of persons deceased as a result of murder, aggravated murder and intentional crimes resulting in the victim's death are also entitled to free legal assistance.
When you report a crime, the police officer who takes your report will explain to you what will happen next. You will be informed of your rights and the services you can receive. The police are obliged to draw up a written report indicating what information they have provided to you.
You will receive information about:
Subsequently, during the proceedings, you can receive information on the progress of the investigation and, if the prosecutor decides not to refer the case to court, a copy of that decision. In order to receive that information, you will need to submit a request to the police officer or the prosecutor handling your case, indicating a postal address in Romania or an e-mail or electronic messenger address where you can be contacted.
If the prosecutor decides to refer the case to court for trial, you will be summoned to court.
If you are to be heard in court, you will also be informed of your rights and obligations, as follows:
Yes. You are entitled to translation and interpreting services throughout the criminal proceedings.
The judicial body may order that interviews of victims who require protection under the law be conducted via or in the presence of a psychologist or another person specialising in victim counselling.
Victims with speech or hearing impairments will be interviewed in the presence of persons who can communicate using sign language. In such cases, you may also communicate in writing.
Victim support services
In order to receive appropriate support and protection, victims will be assessed individually. Victims are assessed by victim support services or private providers of social services. Where appropriate, those services cooperate with public or private healthcare providers, with the victim’s consent.
Support and protection services provided both to victims of crimes and to their family members may consist of:
Support and protection services can be provided in:
Victims of domestic violence or human trafficking can be accommodated in residential reception centres where, for a limited period of time, they and the minors in their care receive family assistance, protection against the offender, medical care and care services, food, accommodation, psychological counselling and legal assistance free of charge.
More details on support services for victims of domestic violence can be found here
There is a victim support service within each General Directorate for Social Work and Child Protection (DGASPC).
Victim support can also be provided by private social service providers.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can contact the National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men (Agenția Națională pentru Egalitate de Șanse între Bărbați și Femei) and the Directorates General for Social Work and Child Protection (DGASPCs).
If you are under 18 years of age and have been a victim of crime, you can contact the National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights and Adoption (Autoritatea Națională pentru Protecția Drepturilor Copilului și Adopție - ANPDCA) and the Directorates General for Social Work and Child Protection (DGASPCs).
If you have been a victim of human trafficking, you can contact the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (Agenția Națională împotriva Traficului de Persoane - ANITP) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministerul Afacerilor Interne - MAI).
The Ministry of Justice is the Romanian assisting authority responsible for the financial compensation procedure for victims of intentional violent crimes committed in the territory of a Member State, other than that where the victim legally resides.
There are also a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which provide various types of victim support. The institution you contact will direct you to the relevant NGO.
Yes, the judicial bodies must refer you to such services.
Information, support and protection are provided to victims of crime in a manner that ensures confidentiality of their personal data and of any information on the victim’s private life and the difficulty the victim is facing. Support services are provided on an anonymous basis and do not require the conclusion of a contract with the beneficiaries.
Data concerning victims of crimes are stored for one year. They may be used for victim support and protection activities or supplied to judicial bodies at their request. The stored data will be deleted when the one-year period has expired.
If you receive victim support and protection, your identification data will be kept throughout the period during which such measures apply and for three months after that period has ended.
The location of accommodation centres for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking is secret.
Both during the criminal investigation and during the court proceedings, if the judicial bodies deem that your privacy or dignity may be affected because of any information you provide or for any other reason, they may take a number of measures, on their own initiative or at your request, to protect your confidentiality and privacy, such as:
Moreover, during the proceedings, the court may prohibit the publication of any texts, drawings, photographs or images that could reveal your identity.
The court may also declare the court session private if a public hearing could affect your dignity or privacy.
You do not need to file a complaint with the criminal investigation bodies in order to have access to information, support and protection provided to victims of crime.
Personal protection if I’m in danger
Both during the criminal investigation and during the court proceedings, you are entitled to protective measures, when the judicial bodies deem that you may be in danger.
It is very important for you to know that, if the judicial bodies deem that you may be in danger because of any information you provide or for any other reason, they may take, either at your request or on their own initiative, certain measures to ensure your protection, such as:
Moreover, during the proceedings, the court may prohibit the publication of any texts, drawings, photographs or images that could reveal your identity.
Furthermore, if you are a witness in the criminal proceedings or, even where you are not involved in the case, you provide information which helps the judicial bodies to solve cases related to serious crimes or to prevent significant damages from occurring, you can ask the police officer or the prosecutor who conducts the investigation to place you under the witness protection programme. This programme includes a number of measures such as:
If you enter the witness protection programme, you will be able to receive additional assistance such as:
If necessary, your first-degree relatives (such as your children or parents) and your spouse may enter the witness protection programme as well.
If you have not entered the witness protection programme during the criminal investigation, you may apply to the court to be included.
Additional protection is available, depending on the type of crime:
If you believe you are in danger, you should inform the police officer, the prosecutor or the judge and provide as much information as possible.
The measures set out above are available both at the criminal investigation stage and during the court proceedings.
You will be protected by the Romanian Police.
In order to avoid secondary victimisation, you will be assessed as soon as possible after your identification, so that the number of statements and medical/psychological/social assessments is kept to a minimum.
Victim support departments/providers of victim support services will offer you advice on the risks of intimidation and retaliation. In order to avoid the risk of intimidation and retaliation, you can be temporarily accommodated in residential centres.
If you are still in danger after the criminal trial has ended, the judicial bodies will consider whether you should be included in a witness protection programme, unless you are already part of such a programme.
If you have been a victim of human trafficking, violence in close relationships, organised crime, terrorism or other categories of crime, you will be deemed a vulnerable victim and will receive the protection provided for by law for threatened or vulnerable witnesses.
Yes, your case can be assessed. For instance, if you have been a victim of certain categories of crime (domestic violence, rape, sexual assault etc.), you will be heard only by a person of the same gender, should you so request.
A second interview of the victim will take place only if this is strictly necessary for the purpose of the criminal proceedings, so as to avoid further harm.
To avoid secondary victimisation caused by repeated interrogation of the victim by the judicial bodies, the laws on criminal procedure also require that an injured party who has reported a crime should be heard immediately or, when this is not possible, after they have submitted the complaint, without undue delay.
Victims of crimes are offered separate waiting rooms in court.
If you are a vulnerable victim, you may benefit from the protective measures set out above in the answers relating to witness protection.
If you are a child and have been a victim of exploitation, violence, abuse, negligence, maltreatment or any other crime, any person, including you, can report the crime to the police.
Minors are considered vulnerable victims from the beginning, and the authorities will inform you about the protective measures you can receive.
If the judicial body cannot determine your age and there are reasons to believe that you are a minor, you will be presumed to be a minor.
Child victims of violence will be assessed and provided support and protection under the law by the specialised departments of the Directorates General for Social Work and Child Protection that are responsible for intervention in cases of abuse, negligence, trafficking, migration and repatriation.
Minors can receive assistance from the National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights and Adoption.
An abused or neglected child or a child who has experienced any form of violence may be temporarily placed with another family, with a foster parent or in a special centre, as an emergency measure.
If you are called to appear before the criminal investigation bodies and you are less than 14 years old, you must be accompanied by your parents or guardian or by the representative of the institution entrusted with your upbringing and education, as well as by a psychologist determined by the judicial body. The psychologist will provide expert advice to the minor throughout the legal proceedings.
If your parents or guardians are also involved in the criminal proceedings or may have an interest in influencing your statement, you will be interviewed in the presence of a representative of the guardianship authority or of a relative with full legal capacity, as well as a psychologist determined by the judicial body. If the hearing concerns the work of the institution entrusted with your upbringing and education, the representative of that institution shall be replaced by the representative of the guardianship authority or a relative with full legal capacity, as well as a psychologist determined by the judicial body.
The interview must be recorded. If that is not possible, it must be specified in your statement, giving the reasons.
You can be heard by the same person in specially designed/adapted rooms, if possible.
In the investigation of certain categories of crime, interviews may be conducted by a person of the same gender as the victim. You may also be accompanied by a person of your choice.
You are entitled to a legal representative throughout the proceedings. If you have no legal counsel, the court will assist you in finding one. If your family cannot afford to pay for the counsel's services, you are entitled to free legal assistance.
In cases concerning human trafficking crimes, minors under 14 years of age will be heard in the presence of at least one of their parents or another legal representative. Furthermore, a psychologist and a representative of the General Directorate for Social Work and Child Protection must also be summoned.
In this case, you are a victim of crime and are entitled to all the support and protection services set out above, including information, psychological counselling, legal assistance, referral to healthcare services, social insertion/reinsertion services etc.
The spouse, the children and dependants of a person deceased as a result of murder and aggravated murder as set out in Articles 188 and 189 of the Criminal Code, as well as of intentional crimes resulting in the victim's death are entitled to free legal assistance and financial compensation from the State.
Free legal assistance is available also for other categories of crime, if the victim's monthly income per family member is no higher than the gross national minimum basic salary determined for the year when the application for free legal assistance is submitted.
Please see above.
Mediation is possible in the case of crimes that are considered less serious under criminal law. The procedure can be applied only if both you and the offender agree to participate. During the mediation procedure you will be invited to a series of meetings with the offender to see whether reconciliation is possible. A person called a mediator will facilitate the meetings. If at the end of the procedure you have reached an agreement with the offender, you can withdraw your complaint and the case will be closed. If the procedure has not been successful, the criminal proceedings will continue as if no mediation has occurred.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
If you have been a victim of crime, you can report it to the police (or the public prosecutor) orally or in writing. You can also ask another person to report the crime for you, but you need to provide that person with a written power of attorney. The written and signed power of attorney will be attached to the case file.
The crime may be reported by one spouse on behalf of the other spouse or by an adult child on behalf of parents. If a child that is still a minor reports a crime, the report may be made by a representative of the child or with the consent of such a representative.
If you choose to report the crime orally, you have to go to a police station. The police officer accepting your report will write it down in a record and will ask you to sign it. Written reports must also be signed.
Your report has to include your name, occupation, home address and a detailed description of what happened. If you know who the offender is, you have to provide all the information you have about him/her, as well as any evidence related to the incident. During the investigation of the crime, you can also give additional information in the case.
If you do not speak or do not understand Romanian, you can file the report in a language you understand and the judicial body will have it translated. In this case, you may ask that any summons you receive should be issued in a language you understand.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can ask for a provisional protection order to be issued by the police or ask the competent court to issue a protection order. This means you have to fill in a standard application, which is submitted to the district court (judecătoria) with jurisdiction over your place of residence. The application can be submitted in person or, if you agree, by a person from social services dealing with violence in the family, or by a public prosecutor or police officer.
Following your report, the police bodies will forward the case to the public prosecutor, where it will be assigned a sole number.
Once you report the crime, you can check the progress of your case by making a written request to this end, while indicating an address in Romania or an e-mail or electronic messenger address where the authorities should send the information.
If the prosecutor decides to bring the case to court, you are entitled to consult the file at the premises of the court during court proceedings. In addition, you will be called to appear before the court.
If you are an injured party, you are entitled to receive legal assistance or to be represented.
a) Throughout the criminal proceedings, you are entitled to be assisted by a legal counsel of your choice paid by you. If the offender is convicted, you will be able to recover the expenses incurred for your legal counsel from the offender.
b) If you so wish, you may be represented throughout the criminal proceedings, unless your presence is compulsory or the prosecutor, the judge or the court deems it necessary, as applicable (e.g. for hearing purposes).
c) In certain cases, legal assistance during criminal proceedings may be provided free of charge:
In such cases, free legal assistance is available only if you have reported the crime with the police or the public prosecutor within 60 days from the occurrence of the crime, or, if applicable, within 60 days of the date on which you became aware of the crime. If you were unable to report the crime, the 60 days runs from date marking the end of the circumstances that prevented you reporting it.
If you wish to receive free legal assistance, you need to lodge an application with the prosecutor or the court, as applicable, which will take the required actions. Free legal assistance is available to you until the end of the criminal proceedings.
You can claim reimbursement of your legal expenses. The court will decide what part of your expenses has to be reimbursed and by whom.
If you participate as an injured party or as a civil party in the proceedings (if your civil action is allowed) and the defendant is found guilty (even if, for certain reasons, he/she is not convicted to serve a sentence), he/she will be ordered to pay your legal expenses.
If the public prosecutor decides to close the case without bringing it to court, you can appeal against his/her decision within 20 days of receiving a copy of such decision. Your appeal has to be submitted to the superior prosecutor.
If the superior prosecutor dismisses your appeal, you may appeal against the superior prosecutor’s decision before the preliminary chamber judge of the court of jurisdiction.
You can be involved in the criminal proceedings as follows:
If you have suffered an injury caused by a crime, you may participate in the proceedings as a victim and you are entitled to a number of procedural rights, as detailed below.
If you do not wish to participate in the criminal proceedings as an injured party, you should inform the judicial body handling your case, which, if so deemed necessary, may still call you to be heard as a witness. If you are called to be heard as witness, you must be present and declare everything you know about the incident.
If you wish to claim compensation for the damages caused by the crime, you have to file a civil claim, thus becoming a civil party in the criminal proceedings.
In general, court hearings are open to the public and you can attend the hearings irrespective of your role in the proceedings. However, the court may decide to hold private hearings when there are sufficient reasons for this decision. In this case, you will be able to attend only if you are an injured party or a civil party.
Your presence in the courtroom is mandatory only when you are called for an interview (e.g. as a witness).
If you have been a victim of crime, you may have one of the following roles in the justice system:
If you have suffered an injury caused by a crime, you may participate in the proceedings as a victim and you are entitled to a number of procedural rights, as detailed below.
If you wish to claim compensation for the damages caused by the crime, you may file a civil claim, thus becoming a civil party in the criminal proceedings.
If you do not wish to participate in the criminal proceedings as an injured party, you should inform the judicial body handling your case, which, if so deemed necessary, may still call you to be heard as a witness. In this case, you will be called for an interview and you will be asked to provide detailed information on the incident. Your presence during the interview is compulsory whenever you are called for this purpose.
If you participate in the criminal proceedings as injured party/civil party, you have a number of procedural rights:
During the criminal investigation:
During the trial:
It is highly important for you to know that, if the judicial bodies deem that you might be in danger or that your privacy or dignity might be affected due to the information you provide or due to other causes, they may take, either if you request it or on their own initiative (ex officio), certain measures to ensure your protection, such as:
When so deemed necessary for your protection during the court proceedings, the judge may decide that the hearing should be private. You may also ask the judge to declare the hearing private.
Moreover, during court proceedings, the court may forbid any publication of texts, drawings, pictures or images that might reveal your identity.
If you are a witness, you are also entitled to other special means of witness protection. If you consider yourself in danger, you should inform the police officer, the prosecutor or the judge and provide as much information as possible.
Yes. If you have chosen to participate in the trial, both the prosecutor/ police officer and the judge may hear you as an injured party/ as a civil party.
The prosecutor or the police officer will call you to be present at the premises of the police/ prosecutor’s office in order to be interviewed and, during the trial, you will be called to be heard in the proceedings.
During the criminal investigation, you can receive information on the progress of the case and a copy detailing the prosecutor's decision related to the advisability of referring the case to court. For this, you will need to submit a request to the police officer or the prosecutor handling the case and to indicate an address in Romania, an e-mail or electronic messenger address to receive the information.
During the trial, you will be called at the first hearing and informed that you can become a civil party in the proceedings. You will receive no further calls for the next hearings. By attending court hearings or consulting the file, you will be informed about the progress of the case and the next hearing dates. However, you will be called whenever you must be interviewed.
Once available, a copy of the ruling will be delivered to you.
If you do not understand Romanian, the ruling minutes (a report of the court's judgement without extensive reasoning) will be delivered to you in a language you understand. The reasoning will be provided to you in Romanian and you may resort to the available interpreting services in order to have it translated.
Yes, you or your counsel can consult the file. In order to do this, you need to go to the registry of the prosecutor’s office or of the court which keeps your file and submit an application in this respect.
However, the consultation of your file will be subject to specific rules, which will be communicated by the registry.
You are entitled to receive information on the conditions and the procedure governing the admission to the witness protection programme.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
The trial ends with a court decision (judgment) applying one of the following measures to the defendant: conviction, acquittal, waiver of sentence, postponement of sentence or termination of criminal proceedings. The decision will be announced during a public court hearing. If you have participated in the trial as a victim and/or civil party, you will receive a copy of the court’s decision by post.
If you are dissatisfied with the court decision, you can appeal against it. You can file an appeal only if you have participated in the trial as a victim or civil party.
You can also appeal as a witness, but only in relation to the reimbursement of legal expenses and indemnities you are entitled to.
If you are a victim or civil party, the deadline for submitting the appeal is 10 days after receiving a copy of the decision minutes.
If you have acted as a witness, you can file an appeal right after a decision on legal expenses and indemnities has been handed down, but no later than 10 days from the ruling that settled the case or from the notification of the ruling on legal expenses or indemnities, as applicable.
The appeal has to be made in writing and signed. Appeals are submitted to the same court whose decision you are appealing against.
After receiving the appeal, the court will forward it to the higher court competent to deal with it. The copy of the court’s decision will include information about when and where you can file your appeal.
The sentence will enter into force after all the opportunities for appeal have been exhausted. After the sentence enters into force, your role in the proceedings is over. If you have been placed under a special witness protection programme during the proceedings, you can continue to benefit from it until the court decides that you are no longer in danger.
Some support measures are granted during the trial or for a fixed period of time, while others are granted on the basis of the victim’s specific needs.
Free legal assistance for crime victims is granted for the full duration of the trial.
If you are a victim of human trafficking, you can benefit from a recovery and reflection period of up to 90 days, during which you have the right to psychological counselling, medical and social assistance, medicine, food and, upon request, accommodation in protected centres or safe houses and you will be informed of the applicable judicial and administrative procedures.
If you are a foreigner for whom there are serious grounds for believing you have been the victim of human trafficking, you also benefit from a period of recovery and reflection of up to 90 days, during which you are granted, at the request of a judicial body, permission to remain in the territory of Romania and may be accommodated in dedicated facilities. You may also be granted a temporary permit to reside in Romanian territory during or after the recovery period.
In the case of victims of domestic violence, the protection order is issued for a maximum duration of 6 months. Further details on the right to support and protection of victims of domestic violence can be found here.
In the case of a witness included in a witness protection programme, the protection measure may also continue after the trial has finished, but when it does finish the scheme will be reviewed in order to adapt it to the new situation. The term of such protection will be decided by the court.
If the offender is sentenced, you can have access to the following categories of information: the type and the duration of the penalty (the sentence is handed down in a public hearing and will be delivered to you subsequently), information in case of escape, release on any terms, provided that you have requested such information.
Yes, you will be informed of the offender’s release or escape from prison, if you have requested so when asked by the judicial bodies. Please see the answer above.
Your role in the criminal proceedings will be over when the court's decision (convicting or acquitting the defendant, waiving or postponing penalty enforcement or terminating criminal proceedings) becomes final.
You will not be involved in the offender’s release or conditional release procedure.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
You can claim damages from the offender by becoming a civil party in the criminal proceedings. You should take this course of action before the commencement of the preparatory inquiry. The judicial bodies must inform you of this right. You may become a civil party in the criminal proceedings either orally or in writing. However, you must specify the damages claimed, the reasons and the evidence underlying your claim.
This claim may be lodged either with the prosecutor's office or with the court that will deal with the substance of the case.
The court sentence will also include the damages ordered by the court against the offender.
If you are not a civil party in the criminal proceedings, you may still lodge a separate action with the civil court in order to claim damages.
As long as there is a judgment in place ordering the offender to pay damages, he/she must do so without the need for you to take any further action. If the offender fails to pay, you may seek the enforcement of the judgement.
In order to do this, you must submit the judgement awarding you compensation to a bailiff. The bailiff will act for the enforcement of the court decision and will tell you what to do next.
The state can pay you compensation under certain conditions.
If the offender is insolvent or is missing, the state can pay you compensation, provided that you lodge an application for financial compensation. You should lodge the application within one year. The date on which the term begins to run depends on the solution ordered by the judicial bodies.
If the offender is unknown, you should lodge the application for financial compensation within 3 years from the perpetration of the offence, unless you have obtained full compensation from an insurer.
You may submit an application for an advance payment of the financial compensation. In order to do this, you should first submit the application for financial compensation as mentioned above. The advance payment may be requested in the application for financial compensation or subsequently within 30 days. You are entitled to an advance payment provided that you are in a precarious financial position.
If your application for damages/compensation is dismissed, you must refund the advance money received. The application for financial compensation should be lodged with the tribunal under whose jurisdiction you reside.
Yes. Financial compensation is granted, upon request, if you are the victim of an attempt to commit aggravated murder or murder, physical assault, crime committed with intent resulting in bodily injury, rape, a sexual act with a minor or sexual assault, human trafficking or trafficking in minors, a terrorist offence or of any other violent crime committed with criminal intent.
You can obtain financial compensation if one of the above offences was committed on Romanian territory and you are a Romanian citizen, a foreign citizen or a stateless person legally residing in Romania, a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, legally present in Romania at the time the crime was committed, or a foreign citizen or stateless person residing in the territory of a Member State of the European Union legally present in Romania at the time the crime was committed.
Compensation is granted only if you have referred the matter to the criminal investigation authorities within 60 days of the date on which the offence was committed. If the victim was physically or mentally unable to notify the criminal investigation authorities, the 60-day deadline shall be calculated from the date on which this inability ceases.
If you are under 18, you are not obliged to report the crime to the criminal investigation authorities, your legal representative can do so on your behalf. If your legal representative has not applied for financial compensation within the prescribed time limits, these periods shall begin to run from the date on which you reach the age of 18.
If the offender is known, financial compensation may be granted to you providing the following conditions are met:
If you are unable to make your claim for financial compensation, the one-year deadline is calculated from the date on which the inability ended.
If the offender is unknown, you can apply for financial compensation within 3 years from the date on which the offence was committed.
You are entitled to financial compensation for the following categories of damage suffered as a result of the crime: hospitalisation and other medical expenses; the material injury resulting from the destruction or degradation of a victim’s assets or because the assets have been rendered useless or the victim has been dispossessed as a consequence of the crime; the gains you are deprived of due to the crime.
If you are a surviving spouse, child or dependant of a deceased victim, you are entitled to financial compensation for funeral costs and maintenance that the victim is deprived of due to the crime.
You can also claim financial compensation for the psychological damage suffered as a result of the crime.
To cover any urgent needs, you may receive an advance on the financial compensation in the form of a voucher. Vouchers are awarded up to an amount equivalent to 5 basic gross minimum wages per country established for the year in which you request the advance. Vouchers shall be used exclusively to cover expenditure on food, accommodation, transport, medicine and sanitary supplies, as well as on items for hygiene and personal use, and shall be distributed through the competent public institutions and authorities, as well as associations and foundations active in the field of victim protection and social assistance. The advance on the financial compensation in the form of a voucher has to be paid back.
If the criminal court does not award relief in respect of the civil claim, you may lodge a separate action with the civil court in order to claim damages.
If the criminal court rules that there is no offence or that it has not been committed by the person against whom you have lodged the complaint, you will not be entitled to damages either in the criminal court or in a separate civil action, since the ruling of the criminal court acquires the force of res judicata before the civil court.
If you are not a civil party in the criminal proceedings, you may lodge a separate action in civil court during the criminal trial or even when it is over, subject to the general limitation periods.
Yes, under certain conditions. You may submit an application for an advance payment of the financial compensation. Please see the answer to the question on advance payments.
You can also benefit from an advance on the financial compensation in the form of a voucher to cover urgent needs. Vouchers are awarded up to an amount equivalent to 5 basic gross minimum wages per country established for the year in which you request the advance. Vouchers can only be used to cover expenses for food, accommodation, transport, medicines and sanitary supplies, as well as items for hygiene and personal use. Vouchers shall be distributed through competent public institutions and authorities, as well as associations and foundations active in the field of victim support and protection and social welfare.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.
You can apply to the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC – Direcţia generale de asistență socială și protecția copilului) under whose jurisdiction you have domicile or residence (i.e. where you currently live), and directly to a private or public social service provider, in which case the provider is required to inform the relevant General Directorate in writing.
You may contact various institutions, according to the category that your case comes under:
It offers various types of services, such as:
Contact:
Address: 5 Intrarea Camil Petrescu, Sector 1, Bucharest
Telephone: +40 21 313 0059
Email: secretariat@anes.gov.ro
Website:
https://anes.gov.ro/informatii-utile-pentru-victime/
The network of courts of appeal includes 15 regional centres. Each centre is attached to a court of appeal.
They offer various types of services, including:
Contact:
Address: Str. Ion Câmpineanu 20, 5th floor, Sector 1, Bucharest
Tel.: +40 21 311 89 82 / 021 313 31 00
Fax: +40 21 319 01 83
Email: anitp@mai.gov.ro
Website: https://anitp.mai.gov.ro/english/
ANOFM provides professional employment and training services through its territorial structures for registered persons seeking employment, including those who were victims of crimes, particularly to victims of trafficking in persons.
Contact:
Str. Avalanșei 20-22, Sector 4, Bucharest, postcode: 040305
Tel.: +40 21 303 98 31
Fax: +40 21 303 98 38
Email: anofm@anofm.ro
Website: https://www.anofm.ro
It has territorial structures exclusive to the border counties that can provide support at ANITP’s request to help victims take part in specific stages of a criminal trial.
The police can inform you of your rights as a victim.
IGPR’s specialised structures can also provide physical protection during a trial.
ANPDCA is the institution responsible for monitoring the application and enforcement of regulations to protect children’s and adoptive rights, as well as coordinating work carried out by public or private providers in this field.
The child protection system is decentralised, as the DGASPCs or General Directorates for Social Work and Child Protection (Direcțiile Generale de Asistență Socială și Protecția Copilului) report to the county councils or to the local municipalities within Bucharest.
DGASPCs provide various services, such as: evaluating cases of violence against children and providing/facilitating plan-based response services, complex evaluation for children with disabilities, complex evaluation for other persons with disabilities, the non-emergency social care ambulance, the social care helpline, social services for preventing domestic violence and human trafficking, specialised social services across a range of institutions.
Contact: http://www.copii.ro
In the field of human trafficking, accessible by clicking on:
In the field of prevention and countering domestic violence, accessible by clicking on:
In the field of protection of children’s rights:
Save the Children (Salvați copiii)
Address: Intr. Ștefan Furtună 3, Sector 1, Bucharest, postcode: 010899, Romania
Tel.: +40 21 316 61 76
https://www.salvaticopiii.ro/;
Social Alternatives (Alternative Sociale)
Șoseaua Nicolina 24, Bl. 949, parter, postcode 700722, Iași
Telephone: +40 332 407 178
https://www.alternativesociale.ro/
People who have suffered injuries as a result of crime can also contact the police by dialling the single national emergency number - 112.
Free and anonymous helpline for victims of domestic violence - 24/7 call centre - 0800 500 333.
Telverde of the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons: 0800 800 678 - national toll-free number and 0040213133100 - for calls from abroad. Working hours: Mon to Fri, between 08:00-16:00
Child helpline: 116111 (freephone number). Working hours: Mon to Sun: 08.00 – 00.00.
Pursuant to applicable Romanian law, the victims of crime are entitled to protection and assistance free of charge.
See the replies above.
The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.