Victims of crime (victimology) Flashcards
what is victimology
the study of victims
who published the first victim study and when
home office in 1983
whats a victim survey
asks people if they have been the victim of crime in the previous year
what did the BSC (a large victim survey show)
about 1 in 4 people experienced crime against themselves or their household. the most at risk was young men and least at risk was people over 75
gender and victimisation
men are far more likely to be victims of street crime but women are more likely to be victims of rape and domestic violence. domestic violence accounts for 16% of all violent crime and will affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men.
ethnicity and victimisation
minority ethnics are more likely to be victims then whites, such as burglry and theft. whites blacks and indians are more likely to be robbed. black people are more likely to be murderd.r
reasons for ethnic minoritys being more likely victims
where hey live, higher unemployment, effect of gangs
age and victimisation : limitaion with the BCS and the 2003 home office survey
it only looks at adults over 16, thre is limited info for how many people undr 16 there are victims of crime, in 2003 the home office published a serperate survey for people aged 10-15. it found that 35% of them had been victims of a personal crime like assualt.
problems with the victim studies for surveys on kids
what actually counts as a crime. for example taking someones pe by mistake. the problem layes in its validity
positivist victiminology
focuses on interpersonal crimes of violnece and seeks patterns in victimisation and aims to identify characteristsics of victims that controbute to their victimisation. victim proness and precipitation (victims actions led to the murder for example)
Critical victimology
Structural factors like patriarchy and poverty. Place powerless group such as women and the poor at greater risk of victimisation. Can be done through the criminal justice system.
patrerns of victimisation: basic 5 points
repeat victimisation, class, age, ethnicity, age, gender
The impact of victimisation
Crime may have serious physical or emotional impact on the victim for example helplessness. Crime may also create indirect victim. Create waves of harm. Crime may create a fear of becoming a victim such as women becoming more scared to go out.
