Victimisation

Question 1

Age and Victimisation

Answer 1

The young are more likely to commit crime but are also more likely to be the victims of it. A home office survey found 35% of 10-16 year olds had been the victim of at least one personal crime, 20% assault. Most at risk of violence are ages 16-24, despite worries by the elderly

Question 2

Class and Victimisation

Answer 2

WC are more highly represented as offenders in official statistics. It has also been shown that hte victims of the majority of crime are poor. Households with an income of less than £10000 are at greatest risk from violence and personal theft

Question 3

Ethnic minorities and victimisation

Answer 3

Smith says ethnicminorities are more likley to be a victim to a crime due to
- live in most dangerous areas
- black on black crime
- higher proportion of young males who are most likely to be the victim of a violent attack

Question 4

Gender and Victimisation

Answer 4

Men are more likely to be the victim to a violent street crime whereas women are far more likely to be the victim of rape and domestic violence

Question 5

What is victimology

Answer 5

The study of victims of crime. Noted that there are a range of impacts on a victim to a crime and crime creates secondary victims and the fear of being a victim

Question 6

Positivist Victimology - Miers

Answer 6

suggests these tend to use official statitics as a scienitfic measure of the victims of crime. From these stats, you can then identify factors that produce patterns in victimisation

Question 7

Positivist Victimology - Wolfgang

Answer 7

Studied 588 homocides in Philadelphia and found in 26% cases the victim contributed to the events triggering the killing. 1 - having interpersonal rela1tionship with the offender. 2 - having a series of escalating conflicts 3 - having consumed alcohol

Question 8

Positivist Victimology - Cohen and Felson

Answer 8

Developed a routine activity/lifestyle theory to explain the likelihood of victimisation - age, race, gender, marital status and income are important factors

Question 9

Radical/Critical Victimology

Answer 9

This is sceptical of official stats and based on conflict theories like marxism and feminism. Like interactionist theories they say the label of victim is a social construction

Question 10

Radical/Critical Victimology - Walklate

Answer 10

Suggests there are three ways critical victimology can challenge positivist crimonology
- analyse power structures like patriarchy and capitalism that leave some groups at greater risk
- identify the hidden victims of crime
- analyse the processes of victim blaming

Question 11

Radical/Critical Victimology - White

Answer 11

Suggests people are labelled as victims on how closely they resemble the characteristics of an ideal victim so they can gain public sympathy