Chapter Three

Lecture 3

• Victims and Victimization

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 Crime Survey Paper

• Crime Survey Paper , DUE March 22, 2023

• You are responsible for conducting a survey of 10 people (friends,
family, etc). In your survey you should inquire about times they
might have broken the law or considered breaking the law. The
point of this survey is to determine what factors people consider
before determining whether or not to commit a crime. Are any
particular “risk assessment” factors (identified in Chapter 4)
weighed before engaging in the criminal behavior or which play a
role in their determination not to engage in the criminal behavior?
Did anyone consider doing so for the thrill of it? Does the type of
crime effect this decision-making process?
• Your paper must identify the questions you asked and your
analysis of the data you obtained. Papers MUST be typed. 3
pages recommended, Times New Roman Font 12, double
spaced..
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 The Victim

• Victimology • https://
– The study of the www.foxnews.com/
victim’s role in criminal us/lsu-president-
events. ripped-madison-
• Victimologists brooks-victim-
– Criminologists who blaming-students-
focus on the victims of alleged-rape-death
crime

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 Victims

• Why do some people become targets of

crimes????
– Lifestyle – examples??
– Environment
– Other contributing factors???

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 Victims (cont.)

• What are some things we do on a daily

basis to avoid becoming a victim? or
just to remain safe???
• Home?
• Work?
• School?
• Public?

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 Victims Role

• For many years victims were viewed as merely

the passive targets of a criminals anger, greed,
or frustration. They were considered to have
been at the wrong place at the wrong time…
• The discovery that victims play an important role
in the crime process has prompted the scientific
study of victims - Victimology.

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 The Costs of Victimization

• Economic Costs
– Significant toll because many expenses are
associated with each crime
– Direct, tangible costs
• Lost property, medical expenses, lost wages
• Pain & fear of being victimized again
– Indirect, intangible costs
• Cost of prosecution, security costs
• other costs$$ ?

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The Costs of Victimization

• The cost to society of an average murder is

almost $9 million
– Considering that about 14,000 Americans are
the victims of murder each year, this crime
alone costs the nation about $126 billion in
losses each year

Rape - $240,776 (per incident)

Robbery - $ 42,310 (per incident)
Burglary - $6,462 (per incident)

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 The Costs of Victimization

• Personal Costs
– Socio-emotional problems
• Severe emotional distress
• Increased relationship problems
• Disruptions at school or work
• Anxiety and depression
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• OTHER EXAMPLES?????

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Class Discussion

• Should victims of assault receive financial

compensation for their pains suffered, including
medical bills, psychological counseling,
reimbursement for wages missed, inability to
work, etc.?
– Who should pay for it?
• Do you have fears that victim compensation
programs might be abused just like um-
employment?
– What measures to protect from abuse?
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The Costs of Victimization

• Is there a link between

victimization & crime?
– Crime victims may be
more likely to commit
crimes themselves
• Cycle of violence real
• There is evidence that
crime Vs are more likely
than non-victims to
commit crimes WHY??
– Victimization causes:
• Social problems
• Stress & anger
• Prompts revenge 11
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 The Nature of Victimization

• The Social Ecology of Victimization • Discussion:

– Location:
• Violent crimes occur slightly more likely
in:
– Open, public areas • In summary you could
– Time:
– Commercial establishments
live a safer life: if you stay
• Violent crime after 9 pm, non-violent inside after 9pm during
crime during the day
• Seasonal variations – Summer
summertime months and
–
–
House burglaries avoid teenage males….
Serious violent crime
– Neighborhood characteristics:
• City higher rates of theft & violence
than the suburbs • Thoughts??????
– Crime in schools:
• Increases fall crime rates
• Will anyone alter their
• Most dangerous persons – teenage lifestyle based upon this
males
• Previously in class we learned that most information?
crimes committed by teenage males

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 The Nature of Victimization –
Victim Characteristics
• Gender • Race and ethnicity
– Except for sex crimes, – African Americans more
Victims more often male likely to be V of violent
– Women more likely to be crime
victimized by someone they – 13% of population yet
know as compared to a over 50% of homicides,
male majority same race victim
• Age and offender
– Young people at greater risk • Marital status
• Social status – Singles victimized more
– Poor: victims of violent & than married
property crime
– Wealthy: victims of personal
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 The Nature of Victimization

• 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, an acquaintance, or an intimate partner
– A surprising number of violent crimes are
committed by relatives or acquaintances
– Rise in Bias Crimes (race, religion)

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 The Nature of Victimization –
Victim Characteristics

• 3 Characteristics increase potential for

victimization:
– Target Vulnerability: physical or psychological
weakness makes them easy targets Discuss,
Why?…..
– Target Gratifiability: V possess item(s) offenders
desire
– Target Antagonism: some
characteristics may arouse
anger, jealousy or destructive
impulses in potential offenders
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 Elderly Victims – cont..

• People are living 18-25 years longer than they

were 50 years ago.
• They are one of the populations most highly
likely to victimization.
• Mainly white collar crimes…
• Elderly Abuse

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The Nature of Victimization

• Elder Victims
– Older adults face risks of
financial, physical, and
psychological abuse
• These abuses often go
undetected
• Family members are often the perpetrators (76%)
– Rapidly increasing elder population has the potential
for increased frequency of abuse incidents

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 Theories of Victimization

• Lifestyle Theories
– High-risk lifestyles
• Drinking, Drugs, Dating Apps
– College lifestyle
• Partying lifestyle, greater risk of
sexual assaults
– Criminal lifestyle participation
• Not going to report their own
criminality

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 Similarities between Routine Activities &
Lifestyle Theories

• Both rely on 4 basic • People increase their

concepts: victimization risk if they:
– Proximity to criminals – Live in high crime areas
– Time of exposure to – Go out late at night
criminals – Carry valuables
– Target attractiveness – Engage in risky behavior
– Guardianship – Are without friends or
family to help

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 Theories of Victimization

• Deviant Place Theory

– Exposure to dangerous places increases the risk

– Neighborhood (socially dis-organized, high crime

area)
– Honor codes (often found in gang culture)
• Some people who become Vs are honor bound to
retaliate
• Failure to do so affects their reputation and
increases likelihood they will be re-victimized

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 Theories of Victimization
• Routine Activities Theory
– Supply of offenders are constant & every society has
people willing to break the law
• Cities provide plenty of targets with minimal guardians
as compared to the suburbs
• What is a guardian? Example?
– Volume & distribution of crime are related to the
interaction of 3 variables:
• Suitable targets
• Capable guardians – deterrents to crime (cops,
neighbors, parents, crossing guard..etc…)
• Motivated offenders
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Caring for the Victim

• Victim Service Programs

– Crisis intervention
– Victim-witness assistance
• Emergency counselling
programs require trained professionals,
– Victim compensation not all agencies have them
• Financial aid given to Vs • Frequently faith based
– Victim advocates community programs fulfill this
role
• Trained advocates to assist
V though the process – Legal protection for victim
• Can remain in courtroom • Restraining Orders in DV
during proceedings cases
– Victim impact statements
• To sentencing judge
– Victim notification form
• V’s notified of offender’s 22
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Caring for the Victim

• Victims’Rights
– Victims’Bill of Rights
• The right to be notified of proceedings and the status
of the defendant
• The right to be present at criminal justice proceedings
• The right to make a statement at sentencing and to
receive restitution from a convicted offender
• The right to be consulted before a case is dismissed
or a plea agreement entered
• The right to a speedy trial
• The right to keep the victim’s information confidential

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 HW

•Chapter 3 – Victims & Victimization

• Homework: Critical Thinking Questions 1 and 3, page 92
• #1 – Considering what you have learned in this chapter about crime victimization,
what measures can you take to better protect yourself from crime?
• # 3 – Do people bear some of the responsibility for their victimization if they
maintain a lifestyle that contributes to the chances of becoming a crime victim?
That is, should we ever “blame the victim”.

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