SUPPORT THE FALSELY ACCUSED PEOPLE
Someone you know has been recently proven not guilty in a falsely accused case, the turmoil they have been gone through is unimaginable by them and their family members. Undoubtedly, there are more innocent people in our jails and prisons today than ever before. Being wrongfully accused of criminal offenses can lead to serious negative consequences for the whole family. The psychological impact of being wrongfully accused of a crime is extreme and long-lasting.
When accusations are made and you first hear them, you might be unaware of what to do with this information and they are completely different from your office conflicts and opinionated fights. Accusations can happen in private, behind your back, and anonymously. Here are few things you can do to support them and to make them feel better. There are many ways to handle accusations so they have a low impact on themselves.
Be with them — The person feels the change in their personality like becoming more paranoid and anxious. Along with personality changes, people also experienced various other losses related to their sense of self, for example, loss of dignity and credibility, loss of the image of the self as a doting parent, and loss of hope and purpose for the future. Bring them their favorite food, spend time with them without asking about the details, and just listen to them if they have something to say. Sometimes the least effort can bring a huge change in them.
Motivate them — Psychological health and physical health perceived extreme impact on daily activities and work particularly mental health, try to bring the inspiration back in them and motivate them to fight from it.
Share your thoughts with your colleagues — Those who were working at the time of their accusation had lost their jobs, been stripped of regular duties, or faced impassable barriers. Their career has taken a backseat and they will be having financial problems. Such people also have difficulties in finding other employment. If the person you know is from your workplace you can model ways to handle it so the entire office can also benefit from your knowledge and you might be able to find ways to help the person or even help them get their job back.
Along with the things you can do to support falsely accused people there are certain things too which you shouldn’t do as well. The problem with accusations is that we often think that they are completely true, even before we try to ascertain their validity. So, instead of immediately believing what you are being told, think and ask before believing everything -
- Is this true?
- Who is the source of giving such news?
- If the source is trustworthy?
- If you know this person or have talked to him before?
The goal of asking yourself these questions is to stop yourself from immediately thinking that everything you heard is true and this might be helpful to the accused person.
If you let the accusations spread, they will spread like wildfire, so breathe and think calmly before believing everything you hear and support the person however it is possible because they already must be going through a lot.
Check Sex Offenders near you — United States of America’s Offender Registry at Offender Radar
