chapter 3 victims and victimization. problems of crime victims victimization costs include: damaged...

Chapter 3

Victims and Victimization

Problems of Crime Victims

Victimization costs include: damaged property, pain and suffering, and the involvement of police and other agencies of the justice system


• Website link:

http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc






• Economic Loss: Problems of Crime Victims

• Violent crime by juveniles costs $158 billion per year• Total economic costs of crime amounts to $450 billion

annually• The costs of crime for each U.S. citizen is $1,800 annually• Victims suffer long term losses in earnings and occupational

attainment• Research suggests crime victims during adolescence earn

about $82,000 less than nonvictims


• System Abuse Callous handling of victims by police Holding of personal property for evidence Rape victims report feeling “re-raped” Economic hardships due to trials


• Long Term Stress Posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) Lowering of self-esteem Increased risk of suicide Eating disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Victimization lead to some people feeling timid and cautious Fear of a repeat attack Suffer psychological stress for longer periods of time


• Antisocial Behavior Victims are more likely to commit crimes themselves Being abused increases the odds of one being arrested (cycle of

violence) Both males and females are affected by the cycle of violence

The Nature of Victimization

Crime rates have been declining The violent victimization rate decreased 54 percent The property crime victimization rate decreased 50 percent

Figure 3.1 Declining Crime Rates, 1973-2003

Figure 3.2 Violent Crime Victimization Rates, 1973-2003

Figure 3.3 Property Crime Victimization Rates, 1973-2003


• The social ecology of victimization Violent crimes are more likely to occur in open public areas

during daytime or early evening hours Almost two-thirds of more serious crimes such as rape occur after

6 P.M. Inner-city inhabitants have a greater chance of being victimized

than suburbanites


• The Victim’s Household Larger, African American, Western, and urban homes are the

most vulnerable to crime Recent declines in victimization may be explained by smaller

households in less populated areas due to movement from urban areas


• Victim Characteristics Gender:

• Males are more likely to be victims of violent crime than females, except for rape and sexual assault

• Females are more likely to be victimized by someone they know, whereas males are more likely to be victimized by strangers

Age: • Young people are more at risk of victimization than older

people• People over 65 only account for 1 percent of violent

victimizations (most being frauds and scams)

Figure 3.4 Violent Crime Rates by Age of Victim


• Social Status Poor people are more likely to experience violent and property

crime The wealthy are more likely to be targets of personal theft crimes


• Marital Status Never-married people are more likely to be victimized than

married people Widows and widowers have the lowest victimization rate

CNN Clip - Anti-Immigrant House Bombing


• Race and Ethnicity African Americans more likely to be victims of violent crime than

European Americans Minorities experience income inequality in greater number than

European Americans

Figure 3.5 Violent Crime Rates by Race of Victim


• Repeat Victimization Individuals who have been a crime victim have a significantly

higher chance of future victimization Characteristics which increase potential for victimization

• Target vulnerability• Target gratifiability• Target antagonism


• The Victims and Their Criminals Males are more likely to be violently victimized by a stranger Females are more likely to be victimized by a friend or intimate Crime is intraracial: Blacks victimize Blacks and Whites victimize

Whites Substance abuse is involved in about one-third of violent crime

incidents Women are more likely to be both robbed and raped by known

acquaintances

Theories of Victimization

• Victim Precipitation Theory – some people may actually initiate the confrontation that leads to their injury or death. Active precipitation – victim acts provocatively (Menachem Amir

1971) Passive precipitation – occurs when victim exhibits some

personal characteristics that unknowingly either threatens or encourages the attacker.


• Lifestyle Theory – certain lifestyles increase exposure to criminal offenders. Being in a public place late at night Living in an urban area High-risk lifestyles (i.e. drinking, drug using) Criminal lifestyle such as carrying weapons and belonging to

gangs


• Deviant Place Theory Victim prone to victimization because one resides in a socially

disorganized high-crime area The more often victims visit dangerous places, the more likely

they will be exposed to crime and violence Deviant places include: poor densely populated areas, highly

transient neighborhoods and commercial areas with residential property in close proximity

William Julius Wilson suggests White residents flee high-crime areas, leaving racial minorities behind to suffer high victimization rates


• Routine Activity Theory Victimization results from the interaction of everyday factors

• Availability of suitable targets• Absence of capable guardians• Presence of motivated offenders

People who live in “hot spots” elevate their chances of victimization

Some criminologists suggest moral guardianship might cause some people to refrain from crime if they are bonded with conventional attitudes (peer rejection)

Ronald Clarke contends the relationship among opportunity, routine activities, and environmental factors increases victimization potential

Figure 3.6 Routine Activities Theory

Figure 3.7 The Opportunity Structure of Crime

Caring for the Victim

• Victimization surveys indicate almost every American will become a victim of a common law crime

• Helping the victim cope is the responsibility of all of society


• The Government’s Response Task Force on Victim’s of Crime created in 1982 to provide

recommendations for victim assistance In 1984 The Comprehensive Crime Control Act and the Victims of

Crime Act authorized federal funding for state victim compensation


• Victim Service Programs An estimated 2,000 victim-witness assistance programs have

been developed Victim compensation: to pay for damages associated with crime

($100 to $15,000) Court services: to help prepare victims and witnesses for court

testimony Public education: to familiarize the general public with primary

prevention programs Crisis intervention: Networks of social service agencies to provide

emergency and long term assistance Victim-offender reconciliation programs: use of mediators for

face-to-face encounters between victims and perpetrators Victim impact statements: allows victims the opportunity to

describe their ordeal


• Victims’ Rights Legal scholars have suggested crime victims have legal rights

and society is obliged to ensure basic rights for law-abiding citizens

Thirty-three states have added victim’s rights amendments to their constitutions

A national Constitutional Amendment has been debated but has not yet passed Congress

In 2004, the Senate passed S.2329 a bill to provide rights to federal victims of crime, which does not change the Constitution


• Victim Advocacy Advocates provide assistance to crime victims by interacting with

police, courts, and legal aid Advocates may assist in the writing of victim statements for

various legal proceedings such as sentencing and probation/parole hearings.

Advocates may interact with media trying to ensure reporting is accurate and that privacy is not violated


• Self-Protection Target hardening involves making one’s home and business

crime proof Use of fences, guards, surveillance cameras, window bars,

warning signs, and dogs Gary Kleck suggests armed victims kill between 1,500 and 2,800

potential felons each year


• Community Organization Neighborhood watch programs Community newsletters Home security surveys Lighting projects

chapter 3 victims and victimization. problems of crime victims victimization costs include: damaged...

Documents

victimization slide

victims of violent crime

violent crime rates

percent slide

risk of victimization

declining crime rates

nonvictims slide

violent victimization