1. Victims and Victimology
Level of Victimization
Profile of a “Crime Victim”
Theories of Victimization
Effects of Victimization

2. The Emergence of Victimology
Until the 1960s, offenders were studied almost exclusively
What changed?
From the Liberal Perspective
Feminist Movement (rape, intimate violence)
“From the Conservative Perspective
Law and Order” concerns (Dirty Harry)
The NCVS

3. Defining “Crime Victims”
Focus almost exclusively on “Street” crimes
NCVS
Can we generalize what we know about street crime to white collar crime (e.g., Enron Victims)?

4. Profile of Victims Where do crimes tend to take place?
Who tends to be victimized?
Age, Race, Gender, Social Class
Victim-Offender relationships
NOTE: THERE TEND TO BE EXCEPTIONS BASED ON TYPE OF CRIME

5. The General “Where”
In U.S., West has highest violent and property crime rates, NE lowest
Different from UCR (South higher in UCR, and Midwest lower)
Urban, Suburban, Rural (property and violent)
Certain neighborhoods
Hot Spots

6. NCVS: VIOLENT OFFESNES

7. What Demographic Characteristics are Related to Victimization?
Gender (Female less than male)
However, rape and intimate violence exceptions
Social Status
Lower social status more likely to be victims, but...
Age
Younger more likely to be victimized
Race/Ethnicity
Blacks more likely to be victimized

8. Age and Violent Victimization

9. Gender and Violent Victimization

10. Age, Race, and Gender
Homicide Victimization, 1997

11. Victim-Offender Relationships
Crime tends to be intra-racial rather than inter-racial
Myth of Black crimes against whites
In violent crimes, the victim is at least “well known” to the offender in 40% of the cases.
Much less often in property cases

12. Theories of Victimization
Explain who gets victimized and/or why
Lifestyle Theories/Routine Activities Theory
Deviant Lifestyles (Equivalence Hypothesis)
Physical Proximity
Victim Precipitation

13. Lifestyle Theories To predict “direct predatory crime”
Routine Activities Theory: The convergence in time and space of:
Motivated Offenders
Suitable Targets
Lack of Capable Guardianship

14. Deviant Lifestyle The Equivalence Hypothesis
Offenders and Victims are the same “group” of folks harming each other
Chance of being murdered greater for youths who are members of gangs
College students more vulnerable to victimization if they report smoking weed and threatening others

15. Physical Proximity Live in or near a “high crime” area
Independent of “lifestyle”

16. Victim Precipitation? Active (e.g., take the first swing) vs. Passive
Wolfgang homicide study
Rape?
Difference between empirical documentation and normative statements
Empirical facts do not “excuse” or justify

17. Immediate Problems of Crime Victims
Financial Loss
Property
Wages
Medical Expenses
Physical and Emotional Pain
Depression, PTSS…
Double Victimization

18. Latest Victim Oriented Movement: Restorative Justice
Basic Principles of RJ
The Purpose of the Criminal Justice System should be “restoration”
The Victim and the Community Should be Involved in the Process
Crime control lies in community, not CJS
Crime is an act against person/community
Punishment alone is ineffective
Other ways to “hold accountable”

19. Restorative Justice in Practice
Victim Offender Mediation
Family Group Conferencing
Peacemaking/Sentencing Circles
Reparative Community Boards
Restitution Programs

20. Restorative Justice: Reasons to be Skeptical?
How badly does the “community” want to participate?
How badly to victims want to participate?
Is retribution always a bad thing?
Can all victims be “restored”?