Anna has experienced a bank robbery and now has to deal with the violent shock. The Weisser Ring, a victims-assistance organization in Germany, could help her. Victims can reach the counseling center by dialing a toll-free number between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The Weißer Ring also has over 400 in-person contact points across the country. Thousands of volunteers help victims in a timely and unbureaucratic manner. They accompany them to the police station or a court hearing, for example. Financial assistance is also provided in the event of material difficulty.

The Weisser Ring, or White Ring, was established as a nonprofit organization in Mainz in 1976. By the way, Eduard Zimmermann, the first presenter of the TV show Aktenzeichen XY, was a co-founder (see regional studies for episode 64). Since then, the organization has supported itself solely through membership fees and donations.

The group places a high priority on prevention. It established the European Day for Victims of Crime, which is annually observed on March 22 and raises awareness of the plight of individuals impacted by crime. The Weisser Ring network currently includes 58 member organizations from 30 countries that aim to improve victims' position in EU member states' criminal procedure laws.