Victims of Crime in Romania

Have you been the victim of a crime? I assist and represent you as an injured party or a civil party.

Lawyer, Cluj Bar · Updated · Read this page in Romanian

In short

You can take part in every stage of the criminal proceedings, as an injured party (persoană vătămată) or as a civil party (parte civilă). You can join as a civil party, to claim compensation, only until the court starts examining the evidence; after that you can lose the right to redress. Among your rights (art. 81 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Codul de procedură penală) are to be informed, to propose evidence, to be heard and to put questions to the defendant, witnesses and experts.

If you’ve suffered because of a crime, the law gives you a place in the criminal proceedings and the right to claim compensation. The injured party is the person who has suffered physical, material or non-pecuniary harm as a result of a criminal act. The civil party is the injured party who brings the civil action in the criminal proceedings, asking the criminal court to also rule on the compensation they’re entitled to.

Taking part in the criminal proceedings

Both the injured party and the civil party can take part in every stage of the criminal proceedings. You can only join as a civil party until the court starts examining the evidence (începerea cercetării judecătorești). If you miss that point, you can lose the right to redress.

The rights of the injured party and of the civil party are set out in art. 81 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They include the right to be informed, to propose evidence, to raise objections, to be heard and to ask questions of the defendant (inculpat), the witnesses and the experts.

Where the offence can only be investigated on a prior complaint (plângere prealabilă), the complaint has to be filed in time. I can assist and represent you throughout the criminal proceedings, as an injured party or as a civil party.

How can I help?

I assist and represent you as an injured party or civil party. I file the complaint in time and draft your application to join the case as a civil party, so you can ask for the harm to be repaired. In cases of domestic violence, you may also need a protection order. Write to me when you’re ready, and I’ll take it from there.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between an injured party and a civil party?
It comes down to what you ask for in the case. The injured party is the person who has suffered physical, material or non-pecuniary harm as a result of a criminal act.

The civil party is the injured party who brings the civil action in the criminal proceedings. In other words, they ask the criminal court to also rule on the compensation they're owed, if it finds that the offence exists and that the defendant committed it.

If you want to claim compensation, I'll tell you which documents to gather.
At what stage can I take part?
At all of them. Both the injured party and the civil party can take part in every stage of the criminal proceedings. You can only join as a civil party, though, until the court starts examining the evidence, so I wouldn't put it off. Write to me and we'll check what stage the case has reached.
What rights does an injured party or civil party have?
You have several rights that are worth using. They're set out in art. 81 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: the right to be informed of your rights, and the right to propose evidence, raise objections and make submissions, to be heard, and to ask questions of the defendant, the witnesses and the experts. I'll explain what each of them means for you.
How can a lawyer help me if I've been harmed by a crime?
I know that after a crime you're not thinking about paperwork, but I think it's worth us talking soon.

Where the offence can only be investigated on a prior complaint, the prior complaint has to be filed in time. And you have to join the case as a civil party before the court starts examining the evidence. Otherwise you can lose the right to redress. You tell me what happened, and I take care of the complaint and of joining the case as a civil party.

Were you the victim of a crime?

Whether you’re a suspect or a defendant, an injured party or a civil party, or you’ve been called as a witness, tell me what’s happening as early as you can and we’ll go through your rights and the next steps.

  1. Send me a few lines about your situation.
  2. I read them and call you.
  3. I tell you what your options are.

Everything you send me is covered by professional secrecy.

How would you like me to contact you?

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    WhatsApp Call 0790 716 125

    I reply within an hour. I'll reply today from 9 am.I'll reply first thing tomorrow morning.I'll reply first thing on Monday morning.I'll reply first thing on the next working day.

    See also

    Criminal law

    Have you been summoned by the police or the prosecutor's office, taken into police custody, or are you the victim of a crime? I assist you as a suspect, defendant, injured party or civil party, from your first questioning to the appeal.

    Criminal investigation

    If you've been called in by the police or the prosecutor's office, you don't have to go alone. I assist and represent you during the criminal investigation, from your first questioning.

    Preliminary chamber

    I assist and represent you at the preliminary chamber stage.

    Trial

    Has your case reached court? I assist and represent you at the trial stage, at every hearing.

    Appeals

    Don't agree with the criminal judgment in your case? I assist and represent you in challenging it, and I keep a close eye on the short filing deadlines.

    Preventive measures

    Preventive measures and how to challenge them.

    Criminal driving offences

    Stopped by the police and now facing a criminal case for drink-driving, driving without a licence, refusing to give samples or leaving the scene of an accident? I'll tell you what comes next at every step, what your options are and what happens to your licence, and I'll come with you when you're questioned.

    Criminal complaint

    Has something happened to you that you want to turn into a criminal case? I write your complaint, file it in the right place, keep track of the 3-month deadline where the law sets one, and join the case on your behalf as a civil party, so you can claim compensation for your loss.
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