Chapter 3Victim and Victimizations

Group 8Criminology (SSWD3623)

Siti Fadzlikha AsyifaNur Diana

Prepared for:Prof Madya Dr. Jamaludin bin Mustaffa

The Nature of the

Victimizations

The Social Ecology of

Victimizations

The Victim’s Household

Victim’s Characteristi

cs

Victims and Their

Criminals

The Social Ecology of Victimizations

For light crime, usually the offence occurs in the open

places

Such as in public, during the daylight

For more serious crime, such as rape or

murder, the offence usually occurs in the

night

Usually it take place after 6 PM

Those living in central city also have higher

percentage to get involve in the offence,

whether to be the victim or predator

The Victims Characterist

ics

Gender

Age

Social Status

Marital Status

Race and

Ethnicity

Gender•Affects the victimizations risks•Male are more likely than females to be the victims of violent crime•Women are much more likely to be victims of rape or sexual harassment•Females are most often victimized by someone they know•For male, they eventually victimized with someone they do not know or strangers

Age•Young people face a much greater victimizations risk than do older people•The elder are more likely to be helpless targets for the predator criminal actually much safer than their grandchild• Teens also face high risk because they spend great time in the most dangerous place such as local school

Social Status

•Poorest Americans also the most victim of violence and property crime•For example, homeless people

Marital Status •Never marries man and women has higher risk to the victim•Widows and widowers have lowest victimization risk

Race and Ethnicity •Because of income inequality, racial and minority group members are often forced to live in deteriorated a urban areas beset by alcohol and drug abuse

Repeat Victimization •Target Vulnerability- the victims physical weakness of psychological distress renders them incapable of resisting crime and makes them an easy target•Target Gratifiability- some victim have some quality, possession, skill, or attribute that an offender wants to obtain, use , have access to or manipulate. Having attractive possession such as leather coat may make one vulnerable to predatory crime•Target Antagonism- some characteristics increase risks because they arouse anger, jealousy, or destructive impulses in potential offenders

Victims and their Criminals

Tells us something

about relationship

Males are more likely to be

violently victimization by the strangers

Females are more likely to be victims to people they

know

There are also crimes done by their own

relative - siblicide

CARING FOR VICTIMS

The Government’s Response to Victimization

Victim’s and Self Protection

Victim’s Right

• May be made for medical bills, loss of wages, loss of future earning

• To pay for the damages obtained

• To help the victims to recover from long-term trauma

• Provide crisis interventions to victims

• Help to familiarize of all victim’s program

• Teach method with dealing with conflicts

• Assuring victim’s right

• Need to interact with the agencies of justices

Victim’s Compensation

Victim’s Counseling

Public Education

Victim’s Advocates

Victim-Offender Reconciliation Programs

• To engage the direct negotiations that leads to restitutions agreement

• Reconciliation between both party

Victims Impact Statements

• Opportunity to tell his or her experiences• Make before the sentences given

Victims and Self Protection

Stand Your Ground

Community Organization

Fighting Back

Victim’s Right according to

European Union Members

Be treated in respect

Have their entitlement to real

and appropriate role in the criminal

proceeding

Have the right to be heard

during proceeding

Receive information on ;

the type of support , where and how to report an offence

PROBLEMS OF

CRIME VICTIMS

ECONOMIC

LOSS

SUFFERING STRESS

& PTSD

ANTI-SOCIAL

BEHAVIOUR

VICTIMS’ CHARAC

TER

ECONOMIC LOSS

COSTS OF

GOODS

PRODUCTIVIT

Y LOSS

COSTS OF VICTIMIZATION

A] SYSTEM COSTSB] INDIVIDUAL COSTS

Criminologists use this below method which is similar to determine civil damages, to estimate the costs of victimization:

A] SYSTEM COSTSEffected party: Society at large, taxpayer,

federal and state government.Cost incurred to:

• Early prevention program• Organization to combat crimesReduce crime

• Medical treatment for injuries• Services for victims• Loss wages, pain and suffering,

also reduced quality of life Victims

•Legal costs•Treatment costs

Justice system

•Abused product•Treatments and care centreSocial costs

B] INDIVIDUAL COSTSEarning and occupational attainment

affected.If happen to have physical disabled during

the incidents of crime but victims had no insurance financial devastating occur due to the costs of special treatment.

Victims may bear psychological and physical ills that may inhibit academic achievement and later their economic and professional success.

SUFFERING STRESS & PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition whose symptoms includes depression, anxiety, and self destructive behaviour.

Common problem especially when the victims does not receive adequate support from family and friends.

ADOLESCENT STRESSYounger victims are prone to suffer stress. Meanwhile, adolescent victims are particularly at risks to PTSD.

Kids victim may suffer psychological deficits which was significantly associated with visual, auditory and tactile hallucination.

This may give effect on long-term mental health, low self-esteem and be more suicidal as adults.

They also risked to be re-abused as adults which may lead to despair, depression, and even homelessness.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The abuse-crime phenomenon is referred to as cycle of violence.

Research shows that both boys and girls are more likely to engage in violent behavior if they were the targets of physical abuse.

They more likely to smoke, drink, and take drugs than are non-abused youth.

Links between victimization and crime:1. Victimization causes social problem2. Victimization causes stress and anger3. Victimization prompts revenge4. Victimization and crime are spurious association.

VICTIMS’ CHARACTER - FEARVictims of violent crime are the most deeply fear a

repeat of their attack. Many go through a fundamental life change,

viewing the world more suspiciously and a less safe, controllable and meaningful place.

Trauma may disrupted memory, cutting off events that happened before the incident and eliminated ability to conceive a happy and productive future.

Vicarious Fear- hearing about another’s victimization may make people timid and cautious. They will make preparation after hearing news of crime happen within their circle.

THEORIES OF

VICTIMIZATION

VICTIM PRECIPITA

TION THEORY

LIFESTYLE

THEORY

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORY

VICTIM PRECIPITATION THEORY(Victim helps in fastening the crime)

Active Precipitation

Victims act provocatively.

Use threats or fighting words or even attack first.

Eg: Dressing provocatively leads to rape.

LIFESTYLE THEORYThe basis of this theory is that the crime is not a

random occurrence but rather a function of the victim’s lifestyle.

Victimization risk is increased by such behaviors as associating with young men, going out in public places late at night and living in an urban area.

Conversely, the risk reduced by staying home at night,l moving to a rural area, staying out of public places, earning more money and getting married.

Factors that also lead to victimization are risky life (homeless and runaway), status, getting involved in criminality and college lifestyle.

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORYLawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson (1979), the

volume and distribution of predatory crime are closely related to the interaction of three variables that reflect the routine activities. They are:

1. The availability of suitable targets2. The absence of capable guardians3. The presence of motivated offenders

Routine Activities and Lifestyle rely on four basic concepts:

a) Proximity to criminalsb) Time of exposure to criminalsc) Target attractivenessd) guardianship

ROUTINE ACTIVITIES THEORYThese two theories share five predictions

that people increase their victimization risk if they:

1) Live in high-crime areas2) Go out late at night3) Carry valuable things4) Engage in risky behavior5) Without friends and family to watch or help

them.