1 crime victims: an introduction to victimology seventh edition by andrew karmen chapter one: what...

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Crime Victims: An Introduction to Crime Victims: An Introduction to VictimologyVictimology

Seventh EditionSeventh Edition

By Andrew KarmenBy Andrew Karmen

Chapter One: What is Chapter One: What is Victimology?Victimology?

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VICTIMOLOGYVICTIMOLOGY

““Scientific study of physical, emotional, and Scientific study of physical, emotional, and financial harm people suffer because of financial harm people suffer because of illegal activities.”illegal activities.”

Included in this definition is the victimization Included in this definition is the victimization occurring for victims within the criminal justice occurring for victims within the criminal justice system.system.

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VICTIMOLOGYVICTIMOLOGY

VictimsVictims—Individuals who experience loss, injury, —Individuals who experience loss, injury, or hardship for any reasonor hardship for any reason

Crime VictimsCrime Victims—Above as result of an illegal act—Above as result of an illegal act

Direct/Primary VictimsDirect/Primary Victims—Experience criminal act —Experience criminal act and its consequences first-handand its consequences first-hand

Indirect/Secondary VictimsIndirect/Secondary Victims—Family and those —Family and those who suffer emotionally or financially but are not who suffer emotionally or financially but are not immediately involved. Can also include care-givers immediately involved. Can also include care-givers and first respondersand first responders

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Studying Victimization ScientificallyStudying Victimization Scientifically

Subjective ApproachSubjective Approach– Issues are approached from standpoint of Issues are approached from standpoint of

morality, ethics, philosophy, personalized morality, ethics, philosophy, personalized reactions, and emotionsreactions, and emotions

Objective ApproachObjective Approach– Requires observer to be fair, open-minded, Requires observer to be fair, open-minded,

even-handed, dispassionate, neutral, and even-handed, dispassionate, neutral, and unbiasedunbiased

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Studying of Victimization Studying of Victimization ScientificallyScientifically

Why should victimologists NOT be pro-Why should victimologists NOT be pro-victim?victim?

““Ideal Victim”: person who suffered harm Ideal Victim”: person who suffered harm was weaker than aggressor, acting was weaker than aggressor, acting virtuously or not looking for trouble or virtuously or not looking for trouble or breaking any laws, and wrongdoer was a breaking any laws, and wrongdoer was a stranger acting illegally and was unprovokedstranger acting illegally and was unprovoked

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Victims or Offenders?Victims or Offenders?

Who is the victim and who is the offender?Who is the victim and who is the offender?

Not always clear cut—consider the Not always clear cut—consider the following:following:

– Subway VigilanteSubway Vigilante– Menendez BrothersMenendez Brothers

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Criminals as VictimsCriminals as Victims

Victims not always “innocent;” Victims not always “innocent;” ExamplesExamples

– Gang members attacking another gangGang members attacking another gang– Drug dealer ripping off a customerDrug dealer ripping off a customer– A “john” robbing a prostitute (or vice-versa)A “john” robbing a prostitute (or vice-versa)

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Cycle of ViolenceCycle of Violence

Cycle of violence over time can transform Cycle of violence over time can transform victim(s) into victimizer(s)victim(s) into victimizer(s)– Group of picked on students may gang up Group of picked on students may gang up

against the bullyagainst the bully– Battered wife may launch a vengeful attack Battered wife may launch a vengeful attack

against husbandagainst husband– Convicts much more likely to have been abused Convicts much more likely to have been abused

physically or sexually as childrenphysically or sexually as children

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Victims vs. “Good Guys”Victims vs. “Good Guys”

Victimologists do not limit their studies to clashes Victimologists do not limit their studies to clashes between victims and offendersbetween victims and offenders

They also consider the social reaction to They also consider the social reaction to victimizationvictimization

Victims are often “used” by other partiesVictims are often “used” by other parties– Media sensationalizes some casesMedia sensationalizes some cases– Organizations with an agenda might use a victim’s plight Organizations with an agenda might use a victim’s plight

for publicity, fund raising, etc.for publicity, fund raising, etc.

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Victimology’s Undeserved Victimology’s Undeserved “Bad Reputation”“Bad Reputation”

Victimology during the 90s and into the Victimology during the 90s and into the twentieth century has become a “dirty word” twentieth century has become a “dirty word” to many peopleto many people

Do not confuse “victimism” with “victimology”Do not confuse “victimism” with “victimology” ““Victimology” is often misused, when the Victimology” is often misused, when the

author intends to describe “victimism.” The author intends to describe “victimism.” The next slide is an example of mis-using the next slide is an example of mis-using the word “victimology”word “victimology”

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(Leo, 1994) a news magazine commentator (Leo, 1994) a news magazine commentator complained, “We are deep into the era of complained, “We are deep into the era of the abuse excuse. The doctrine of the abuse excuse. The doctrine of victimology—claiming victim status means victimology—claiming victim status means you are not responsible for your actions—is you are not responsible for your actions—is beginning to warp the legal system.”beginning to warp the legal system.”

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Victimology is a new academic discipline Victimology is a new academic discipline that only means “the study of victims.”that only means “the study of victims.”

It is focused on the research about people It is focused on the research about people harmed by criminalsharmed by criminals

It does not impose a partisan point of view It does not impose a partisan point of view or a set or predictably biased conclusionsor a set or predictably biased conclusions

The ideology of The ideology of “victimism”“victimism” is a coherent, is a coherent, integrated set of beliefs that shapes integrated set of beliefs that shapes interpretations and leads to political actioninterpretations and leads to political action

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Victimological research must tell the whole Victimological research must tell the whole truth regardless of who is disappointed or truth regardless of who is disappointed or insultedinsulted

Three types of biases undermine the ability Three types of biases undermine the ability of any social scientist to achieve objectivity. of any social scientist to achieve objectivity. They include:They include:

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Three Types of BiasThree Types of Bias

1. 1. May arise from personal experience, taking May arise from personal experience, taking the form of individual preferences and the form of individual preferences and prejudicesprejudices

22. Derives from the history of the discipline . Derives from the history of the discipline itselfitself– Pioneers in the study of victimology first introduced the Pioneers in the study of victimology first introduced the

concept of victim-blaming concept of victim-blaming – Today, majority of victimologists are pro-victimToday, majority of victimologists are pro-victim

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Three Types of BiasThree Types of Bias

3.3. A subtle bias traced back to the mood of A subtle bias traced back to the mood of the timesthe times

60s-70s: a demand for government to devise 60s-70s: a demand for government to devise ways to help victims get back on their feet ways to help victims get back on their feet financially, medically, and emotionallyfinancially, medically, and emotionally

80s: a theme of self-reliance and a reduction 80s: a theme of self-reliance and a reduction in government social spending and tax cutting in government social spending and tax cutting gained popularitygained popularity

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The Origins of VictimologyThe Origins of Victimology

Box 1.3, Page 17, provides highlights in the Box 1.3, Page 17, provides highlights in the brief history of Victimology and Victim brief history of Victimology and Victim AssistanceAssistance

Significant gains in the United States when Significant gains in the United States when the President’s Commission on Law the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Enforcement and the Administration of Justice urged criminologists to pay more Justice urged criminologists to pay more attention to victimsattention to victims

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Milestones in VictimologyMilestones in Victimology

By the 1970s victimology became a recognized By the 1970s victimology became a recognized field of studyfield of study

By 1990, 240 colleges and universities offered By 1990, 240 colleges and universities offered courses in victimologycourses in victimology

Most states passed crime victim rights Most states passed crime victim rights amendments to their state constitutionamendments to their state constitution

2004—Congress enacts the Crime Victims’ Rights 2004—Congress enacts the Crime Victims’ Rights Act which provides for fair treatment and Act which provides for fair treatment and opportunities for input in federal court proceedingsopportunities for input in federal court proceedings

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Victimology vs. CriminologyVictimology vs. Criminology

VictimologyVictimology is best viewed as an area of is best viewed as an area of specialization within criminologyspecialization within criminology

CriminologyCriminology embraces the scientific study of embraces the scientific study of crimes, criminals, criminal laws and the crimes, criminals, criminal laws and the justice system, societal reactions, and crime justice system, societal reactions, and crime victimsvictims

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Victimologists ask why some individuals, Victimologists ask why some individuals, households, and entities are targeted while households, and entities are targeted while others are notothers are not

Criminologists ask why certain individuals Criminologists ask why certain individuals become involved in lawbreaking while become involved in lawbreaking while others do notothers do not

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Criminologists apply their findings to devise Criminologists apply their findings to devise crime prevention strategiescrime prevention strategies

Victimologists use patterns and trends to Victimologists use patterns and trends to develop victimization prevention strategies develop victimization prevention strategies and risk-reduction tacticsand risk-reduction tactics

Both criminologists and victimologists study Both criminologists and victimologists study how the criminal justice system actually how the criminal justice system actually works versus how it is supposed to workworks versus how it is supposed to work

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Victimology vs.. CriminologyVictimology vs.. Criminology

BoundariesBoundaries– Boundaries are clear cut for CriminologyBoundaries are clear cut for Criminology

– Boundaries for Victimology still unclearBoundaries for Victimology still unclear

– Overlap due to lack of boundariesOverlap due to lack of boundaries Crime rates vs. victimization ratesCrime rates vs. victimization rates

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Divisions Within The DisciplineDivisions Within The Discipline

Conservative InfluenceConservative Influence– Focuses primarily on street crimesFocuses primarily on street crimes– Everyone to be held accountable for their Everyone to be held accountable for their

decisions and actionsdecisions and actions– Emphasis on self reliance, NOT governmentEmphasis on self reliance, NOT government– Individual responsibility for preventing, avoiding, Individual responsibility for preventing, avoiding,

resisting and recovering from criminal acts resisting and recovering from criminal acts – Strictly punish offenders on behalf of their Strictly punish offenders on behalf of their

victimsvictims

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Liberal InfluenceLiberal Influence– Scope of field to extend beyond street crimesScope of field to extend beyond street crimes– Endorse government interventionEndorse government intervention– Extend ‘safety net’ mechanisms for all kinds of Extend ‘safety net’ mechanisms for all kinds of

misfortunesmisfortunes– Look to wrongdoers repaying their victims to Look to wrongdoers repaying their victims to

allow for reconciliationallow for reconciliation

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Radical/Critical/Conflict InfluenceRadical/Critical/Conflict Influence– Victimization is a result of oppressive social Victimization is a result of oppressive social

systemsystem– Looks toward societal factors such as poverty, Looks toward societal factors such as poverty,

unemployment, language barriers, etc as unemployment, language barriers, etc as explanations behind crimeexplanations behind crime

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What Victimologists DoWhat Victimologists Do

Victimologists explore the interactions Victimologists explore the interactions between victims and offenders, victims and between victims and offenders, victims and the criminal justice system, and victims and the criminal justice system, and victims and societysociety

Victimologists study the ways in which Victimologists study the ways in which crime victims are harmed, including crime victims are harmed, including physical injury, psychological trauma, and physical injury, psychological trauma, and financial loss. financial loss.

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What Victimologists DoWhat Victimologists Do

Step 1: Identify, Define, and Describe the Step 1: Identify, Define, and Describe the ProblemProblem

Step 2: Measure the True Dimensions of the Step 2: Measure the True Dimensions of the ProblemProblem

Step 3: Observe How Victims Are HandledStep 3: Observe How Victims Are Handled Step 4: Gather Evidence to Test Step 4: Gather Evidence to Test

Hypotheses Hypotheses

Four step process victimologists follow Four step process victimologists follow when carrying out their research:when carrying out their research:

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Chapter One Key TermsChapter One Key TermsVictim Victimization Victimology Direct/Primary

Victims

Survivors Indirect/

Secondary Victims

Subjective

Approach

Objectivity

Sensationalism Victimism Ideology Criminology

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Crime Control Just Deserts Operationalization

Muggability

Ratings

Stockholm Syndrome

Incidence

Rates

Prevalence

Rates

Lifetime

Likelihoods

Profile Needs Assessment

Ideal Type

Plea Negotiations

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