All victims of crime experience emotional reactions of helplessness, guilt, and anger which eventually should be resolved. However, a study of 600 victims has shown that the 'second injury' often occurs when the victims interpret professional detachment on the part of the police and emergency personnel as rejection, and the full recovery is delayed. To avoid this, a training program for helping personnel has been developed in which the psychological needs of victims are described. The training emphasizes the victims' silent expectations of a nurturing, nonblaming attitude, and interviewing techniques which reduce the victims' self-blame, restore their self-respect, and help them vent and redirect their anger. The four stages of response to crime, and the description of specific cases, are included.