Lesson 13 - Victimology

Victimology - branch of criminology that scientifically studies the relationship between the injured
party and an offender by examining the causes and the nature of the consequent suffering. Specifically,
victimology focuses on whether the perpetrators were strangers, mere acquaintances, friends, family
members, or even intimates and why a particular person or place was targeted. ( [Link])

Victim Precipitation – also known as “victim facilitation”, refers to situations where the victim was the
initial aggressor in the action that led to their harm or loss.

- first coined by Marvin Wolfgang

- that victims “contribute” to their own victimization.

Types of Victim Precipitation

1. Active Precipitation or Victim Provocation – when the victim does something that provokes or
incites the criminal to commit a crime.

2. Passive Precipitation or Victim Facilitation – when the victim is unintentionally makes it easier for
the criminal to commit a crime. E.g. a person who left his key in the car or motorcycle.

Victim-blaming - the idea of victim-proneness or moralistic way of assigning guilt to crime victim.

Types of Characteristics that Increase the Potential for Victimization

1. Target vulnerability- Victim’s physical weakness or psychological distress.

2. Target gratifiability- some victims have quality, possession, skill or attribute that an offender wants to
obtain, use, have access to, or manipulate.

3. Target antagonism- some characteristics increase risk because they arouse anger, jealousy or
destructive impulses in potential offenders.

Lifestyle theory

The lifestyle theory maintains that criminals target individuals due to their lifestyle choices. Many victims’
options expose them to criminal offenders and situations where crime is likely to occur. their lifestyle
increases their exposure to criminal offenders. Victimization risk is increased by such behaviors as
associating young men, going out in public places late at night, and living in an urban area.

a) High risk victims- victims in this group have a lifestyle that makes a higher risk for being a victim
of a violent crime.

b) Moderate risk victims- some reasons were in a situation that placed them in a greater risk of level.

c) Low risk victims- These individuals stay out of trouble, do not have peers who are criminal

Examples of lifestyle choices that may raise one’s risk of victimization include:
 1. Walking alone at night.
2. Living in the “bad” part of town.
3. Being promiscuous.
4. Drinking in excess.
5. Doing drugs.
6. Associating with felons.
This theory also cites research that shows a correlation between the lifestyles of victims and offenders.
Both tend to be impulsive and lack self-control, making the victim more likely to put themselves in high-
risk situations and the offender more likely to engage in an unlawful act.

Deviant place theory

Victims do not encourage crime but are victim-prone because they reside in socially disorganized high-
crime areas where they have the greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal offenders. Minorities
tend to be victimized at higher rates because of social and economic inequality. Minorities are more likely
to reside in low-income neighborhoods with high crime rates and cannot move from areas with significant
criminal activity compared to their Caucasian neighbors.

This theory of victimology also proposes that safety measures taken in dangerous areas may be of little to
no use since it’s the area’s demographic that increases victimization rather than the victim’s lifestyle
choices. If an individual lives in a deviant area, the only way to lower their chance of being a victim of a
crime is to leave the deviant and dangerous neighborhood for one that is less deviant and has a lower
crime rate.

Routine Activity theory Articulated by Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson.

They concluded that the volume and distribution of predatory crime (violent crimes against a person and
crimes in which an offender attempts to steal an object directly.

Three variables that reflect the routine activities

1. The availability of suitable targets, including homes that contain high-value items that are
relatively easy to obtain.

2. The absence of capable guardians. Lack of guardianship such as the police, a homeowner,
neighbors, friends, and relatives can increase the probability of a crime. A target that is
undefended and attractive is the holy grail for a motivated criminal. However, if a target is well-
defended by capable guardianship, even the most seasoned criminal may hesitate to attack.

3. The presence of motivated offenders who have criminal intent and the ability to act on their plan.
For example, a substantial amount of jobless teenagers. If there is a lack of motivated criminals in
an area, the crime rate is likely to be lower than the rate in an area with significantly more
motivated offenders.
Guardianship

Even the most motivated offenders may ignore valuable targets if they are well guarded. Despite
containing valuable commodities, private homes and/or public businesses may be considered off-limits by
seasoned criminals if they are well protected by capable guardians and efficient security systems.

Hot spots

Motivated people- such as teenage males, drug users, and unemployed adults- are the ones most likely
to commit crime. If they congregate in a particular neighborhood, it becomes a “hot spot” for crime and
violence.

Lifestyle, Opportunity, and Routine Activities

Routine activities theory is bound up in opportunity and lifestyle. A person’s living arrangements can affect
victim risk; people who live in unguarded areas are at the mercy of motivated offenders. Lifestyle affects
the opportunity for crime because it controls a person’s proximity to criminals, time of exposure to
criminals, attractiveness as a target, and ability to be protected