Utah Special Function Officer (SFO) Practice Exam

Which of the following is considered a tertiary victim?

1. The immediate family of the victim

2. The community as a whole

3. The victim themselves

4. The responding police officer

The correct answer is: The community as a whole

A tertiary victim refers to individuals or groups that are indirectly affected by a crime or traumatic event, often experiencing secondary trauma as a result of the primary victimization. The community as a whole embodies this concept, as it can be impacted by the fear, changes, and emotional distress that stem from violent events or crime in their area. This can lead to shifts in community dynamics, feelings of vulnerability, and a collective sense of mourning or outrage. In contrast, those who are directly connected to the immediate victim, such as family members, are classified as primary victims, while individuals who experience some form of indirect trauma — such as friends or acquaintances of the victim — are considered secondary victims. The responding police officer, while affected in a professional sense, does not typically fall into the categories of victims as their role is to serve and protect rather than be an impacted party in the same way. Thus, the community’s collective experience in relation to the victim's situation highlights why it is defined as the tertiary victim.