1

Victims and Victimology

Basic Questions/Data Gathering

Effects of Victimization

Theories of Victimization

2

The Level and Cost of Victimization

The Level and Cost of Victimization

•37 million criminal37 million criminal incidents (1996)incidents (1996)•Including estimates Including estimates of non-NCVS crimes, of non-NCVS crimes, 49 million49 million

•Cost: $450 billion?Cost: $450 billion?

•37 million criminal37 million criminal incidents (1996)incidents (1996)•Including estimates Including estimates of non-NCVS crimes, of non-NCVS crimes, 49 million49 million

•Cost: $450 billion?Cost: $450 billion?

3

How do we know the “cost” of crime?

Tangible Costs To Victim To Society

Intangible Costs To Victim To Society

4

Estimating victim loss through jury awards

Looking only at cases that go to civil (tort) court Are these a representative sample of “complete”

and “incomplete” crime? Think of the “typical” assault.

Is it worth $9,350?

PROBLEM: use of this data to justify the expense of prison

5

Immediate Problems of Crime Victims

Financial Loss Property Wages Medical Expenses

Physical and Emotional Pain

6

Post-Victimization SufferingPost-Victimization Suffering

““Double VictimizationDouble Victimization”” Intensive questioning by policeIntensive questioning by police What is going on in the case?What is going on in the case? Property is often kept for a long timeProperty is often kept for a long time

Psychological HarmPsychological Harm Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder,

fear, antisocial behaviorsfear, antisocial behaviors

7

Where do Victimizations Take Place?

•Urban areas (more than rural)

•Certain neighborhoods (and areas within these neighborhoods)

•Open, public areas and businesses

8

What Demographic Characteristics are Related to Victimization?

Gender Social Status Marital Status Age Race/Ethnicity

9

Victim-Offender Relationships

Crime tends to be intra-racial rather than inter-racial

In violent crimes, the victim is at least “well known” to the offender in 40% of the cases. Much less often in property cases

10

Theories of Victimization

Explain who gets victimized and/or why Victim Precipitation theory Lifestyle Theories Routine Activities Theory

11

Victim Precipitation Theory

Active (e.g., take the first swing) Rape?

Passive? (e.g., love triangle) Difference between empirical documentation

and normative statements Empirical facts do not “excuse” or justify

12

Lifestyle Theories

All of these designed to explain the correlates of victimization High Risk Lifestyle Equivalent Group Hypothesis Proximity Hypothesis

13

Routine Activities Theory

To predict “direct predatory crime”

The convergence in time and space of: Motivated Offenders Suitable Targets Lack of Capable Guardianship

Usually assume presence of offenders