Which of the following is a known source of secondary victimization?

• A. The kitchen
• B. The internet forum
• C. The criminal justice system
• D. The hospital cafeteria

Answer: (C)

Secondary victimization happens when the response of institutions to a survivor adds to the harm they’ve already experienced from the crime. The criminal justice system is a well-known source because interactions with police, prosecutors, and courts can involve disbelief or minimization of the survivor’s experience, victim-blaming language, intrusive or repeated questioning, and delays that force the survivor to relive trauma and navigate complex procedures. This pattern can deter reporting, erode trust, and heighten psychological distress, which is why the justice system is identified as a source of secondary victimization. Other settings, like a kitchen or hospital cafeteria, aren’t the same kind of formal response mechanisms, and while online spaces can be harmful, the systematic retraumatization most clearly linked to secondary victimization comes from the justice process.