Short and long term impact of being a victim of crime

There are many different ways that being a victim of crime can affect a person both short and long term. Being a victim of crime is experiencing a traumatic event. As with experiencing any sort of traumatic event a person many experience symptoms similar to those of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and with out appropriate help these symptoms many not go away and can become worse.  The character Harper form the CSI episode we watched in class is a great example of what both the short and longer term impact a person my presented with a person who has experienced a traumatic event such as sexual assault. When we are first introduced to Harper the immediate impact of the assault was apparent. It was clear that she was startled and in a state of shock. As time went on the traumatic experience Harper had gone through continued to effect her because it took a significant amount of time for her to sleep at night and when she did  all lights on, and would ware here running shoes to bed. All the strain that this put on her relationship with her boyfriend at that point of time eventually it's termination. The impacts that this traumatic event had on Harper's effected her ability to function and have a "normal " life. Harper was intentionally reluctant to help with the investigation when new evidence turned up because she did not want to be re-victimized. Re-victimization is when a victim is forced to relive the traumatic event after it has happened such when Harper was giving her statement, and in the hospital when they did the rape kit.