Kacper is 10 years old. After his parents separated, he remained in his mother’s care. One day, police officers called to intervene discovered that during a drinking party organized by his mother and her new partner, the boy had hidden in the…basement. As it soon turned out, this was not the first time.

By decision of the family court, the boy’s father took over his care. He soon contacted the Local Assistance Centre for Victims of Crime, seeking support for his son.

Kacper had experienced many difficult situations in his mother’s home. At the centre, he received immediate psychological support. He had a disturbed sense of security, problems with his emotions and with adjusting to his new situation, because he had to change not only his place of residence but also his entire peer environment. At the Justice Fund facility, experienced specialists took care of Kacper.

Real and Necessary Help

There are many such stories.

This year alone, nearly 7,000 children and young people throughout Poland have received help from Justice Fund facilities!

“Our goal is to stand on the side of the weak and vulnerable. The long-term assistance system that has been launched guarantees effective support for crime victims, appropriately tailored to their individual needs,” explains Marcin Romanowski, Deputy Minister of Justice. “The assistance available to children and young people through the Justice Fund is comprehensive and diverse. This support is extremely important, especially when the victims of crimes are the youngest. Traumatic experiences require them to receive immediate legal, psychological and often medical assistance.”

At specialist facilities, victims and their families can receive completely free legal, psychological and material assistance. Specialists help with various matters, such as preparing letters and official applications, finding safe shelter and obtaining funding for vocational retraining, among other things. Justice Fund money can finance the purchase of clothes and cleaning products, and even childcare costs.

Since 2019, more than 192,600 people have received support from the Justice Fund!

Where to Seek Help?

To receive support, it is enough to contact one of the more than 300 Justice Fund centres that provide assistance to crime victims and their families. You can visit in person, send an email or call. All the necessary information, including addresses and contact details for facilities throughout Poland, is available on the interactive map www.funduszsprawiedliwosci.gov.pl/pl/znajdz-osrodek-pomocy/

There is also a nationwide, 24-hour Assistance Line for Victims at 222 309 900; you can also email: info@numersos.pl

In the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, you can seek help from, among others, facilities operating within the Assistance Network for Victims, funded by the Justice Fund, whose administrator is the Minister of Justice:

  • District Centre for Assistance to Victims of Crime in Świdnica, Pl. Św. Małgorzaty 1
  • District Centre for Assistance to Victims of Crime in Wrocław, ul. Nowa 2A