FAQ

116006 is a free helpline for people who have been victims of crime or experienced violence. By calling, you can receive emotional support, practical advice on what to do, as well as information about your rights and the assistance available in Latvia. We listen, help you understand the situation, and work with you to figure out the next steps.

Yes, calls to 116006 are completely free from any phone in Latvia.

Yes, you can call anonymously. You do not have to give your name or any other personal information if you do not wish to.

Help is also available in writing; a chat feature is available on the website cietusajiem.lv, daily from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM

When filing a report with the police, it is important to adhere to both the form and the content. The report can be written in any format, but it must include specific information.

The report can be submitted in several ways:

• in person at any police station;
• electronically via the latvija.gov.lv portal using an e-mail address;
• electronically, by signing with an e-signature and sending it to the e-mail address: pasts@vp.gov.lv;
• using Smart-ID and signing the document (e.g., via Dokobit or Lahdes);
• by mail, sent to any police unit.

Content of the application:

• The application must include:
• a detailed description of the incident (what happened, when, where, who was involved);
• how your rights have been violated or harm has been caused;
• any additional information that may assist in the investigation (e.g., witnesses, evidence, correspondence, photos, etc.); your personal information (first name, last name, personal identification number), registered or actual address, and, if possible, a contact phone number.

A natural person who has been recognized as a victim in accordance with the procedure set forth in the Criminal Procedure Law is entitled to state compensation if, as a result of a criminal offense:

1) the person has died (and a close relative of the deceased has been recognized as a victim in the criminal proceedings);

2) the victim has suffered severe or moderate bodily injury;

3) the victim’s modesty or sexual integrity has been violated;

4) the victim is a victim of human trafficking;

5) the victim has been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C.

The victim is entitled to state compensation even if the perpetrator of the criminal offense or his accomplice is unknown or cannot be held criminally liable under the Criminal Law.

https://www.ta.gov.lv/lv/valsts-kompensacijas-kalkulators

To receive compensation, the victim must complete the state compensation claim form (https://www.ta.gov.lv/lv/veidlapas) and attach the following:

1) a statement from the prosecutor if no final decision has been issued in the criminal proceedings at the time the state compensation is requested;

2) the final decision of the prosecutor that has entered into force, if the criminal proceedings have been concluded or the prosecutor’s decision to terminate the criminal proceedings due to circumstances that do not exonerate the person has entered into force;

3) an enforcement document, if the court judgment or the final decision of the presiding judge has ordered compensation for the harm caused by the criminal offense and such compensation has not been paid or has been paid only in part. If the enforcement document has been submitted to a bailiff, the request must specify to which bailiff it was submitted;

The form is available at the Court Administration, on the website www.ta.gov.lv, on the Latvian government portal www.latvija.lv, or from the case handler (police, prosecutor’s office, court).
You can get advice on filling out the form and the documents to be attached by calling the toll-free information line at 80 00 18 01.
Important! If there have been changes to the information provided in the state compensation claim, the victim is required to notify the Court Administration immediately, but no later than the next business day after becoming aware of the changes.

A claim for state compensation must be submitted to the Court Administration within three years of the date on which the person was recognized as a victim or became aware of the facts entitling them to do so (for example, the date on which the person learned that they had been recognized as a victim in criminal proceedings, learned of the results of a forensic medical examination confirming the consequences resulting from the criminal offense, or learned of the classification of the criminal offense under a specific section of the Criminal Code).