Victimology Flashcards
(36 cards)
Define victimology
Study of victims
Attempts to ID whether some people = more likely to be Vs + why
Define victims
= those who have suffered harm through acts/ commissions that violate the laws of the state
Harm includes: mental, physical, emotional, economic loss, impairment of basic rights
What has the study of victimology led to?
Rapid growth of victim surveys
- shine critical light on OCS based on police recorded crime, uncovers ‘dark figures’ of crime
What is the name of the biggest victim survey in the UK?
Crime Survey for England + Wales
formerly known as British Crime Survey
Give 4 ways in which the CJS is now more victim-centred
- Growing emphasis on restorative justice (give V chance to confront offender, seek apology/ remorse)
- New policy introduced (2002) police must now give priority to Vs account, not policed who viewed evidence
- 2013 Home Office: Vs of low-level/ anti-scoail crimes can pick from list of out-of-Ct punishments they think the offender should be given
- V = viewed increasingly as ‘customers’ of CJS, success = now judged on extent its met needs of V (past sole focus = on how well it dealt with offender) e.g. V support service
What are the 2 perspective of victimology?
- Positivist victimology
2. Critical victimology
What are the 5 impacts of crime on the victims?
- Physical/ emotional impact (disrupted sleep, difficulties in social functioning)
- Creation of ‘indirect Vs (others might also suffer e.g friends/ family)
- Fear of victimisation (makes people disproportionately scared of being Vs)
- 2ndary victimisation (might suffer further victimisation at hands of CJS, W in rape cases)
- Creation of ‘waves of harm’ (radiate out to affect others)
Describe the concept of 2ndary victimisation
Idea that individuals may suffer further victimisation at hands of CJS
In addition to impact of crime itself
e.g. rape Vs often feel they’re being put on trial
How can crime create ‘waves of harm’?
These ‘message’ crimes aimed at intimidating whole communities (not just primary V) may radiate out to affect others
e.g. Lee Rigby’s murder
What 3 features did Miers (1989) ID about the positivist victimology approach?
- Focuses on interpersonal crimes of violence
- Aims to ID factors that produce patterns in victimisation (V proneness/ precipitation)
- Aims to ID Vs who have contributed to own victimisation
Describe the concept of victim proneness
Characteristics of V that make them different from + more vulnerable than non-victims
Describe the concept of victim precipitation
Behaviours which make the V to blame for their own victimisation
What type of theories is the critical victimology perspective based on?
Conflict theories such as Marxism/ feminism
What do critical victimologists look at?
How wider social issues produce victimisation (including CJS)
Believe that structural factors (patriarchy/ poverty) place powerless groups at greater risk of victimisation
Therefore critical of positivist victimologists for failing ti take into account these structures
What are the 2 reasons for victimisation for critical victimologists?
- Social deprivation: weakest/ most deprived citizens who = most likely Vs
- Lack of protection from CJS (e.g. ethnic minorities) + social inequalities e.g patriarchy means men = socialised into sense they = superior
What do critical victimologists argue that the Tate has the power to do?
Apply/ deny the label of ‘victim’
‘victim’ = social construct
Through the CJS, the state applies the label of V to some BUT withholds it from others
e.g. some cases of domestic abuse
What type of victimologist is Hans Von Hentig?
What did his 1948 study ID?
Positivist victimologist
ID that: females, elderly, mentally ill = more prone to being Vs + implied that the Vs in some sense ‘invite’ victimisation due the type of person they are
What type of victimologist are Tombs + Whyte (2007)?
What do they argue about the CJS?
Critical victimologists
Argue CJS has tendency to ‘fail to label’ certain crimes as crimes
Hides crimes of powerful
Denies the powerless Vs of any redress
In hierarchy of victimisation, powerless = most likely to be Vs BUT least likely to be acknowledged by state as Vs
What type of victimologist is Wolgang?
What did he discover in his study on homicides?
Positivist victimologist
Study of homicides in Philadelphia
Found that 26% involved ‘victim precipitation’
Vs triggered the events leading to the homicide (e.g. being 1st to use violence)
What type of victimologists were Malby + Walklate (1994)?
What do they argue about victimisation?
Who argues with them?
Critical victimologists (also feminists) Victimisation = form of structural powerlessness
Christie agrees, claiming that the stereotypical ‘ideal V’ in S = weak, innocent + blameless
What campaign could be used to suggest that positivist victimology approach exists in our S?
Describe how this is
‘This is not an invitation to rape me’ campaign carried out by Rape Crisis Scotland
Launched on 15th October 2008, focused on tackling women-blaming attitudes to rape
27% of people said that W = to blame if she was wearing revealing clothing
On average how many people are victims of crime each year?
1 in 4
Describe the concept of repeat victimisation
If you have been a V once then you have an increased chance of being one again
Who are the most likely victims of crime in terms of socail class?
‘Hard pressed’
Poorest section of wc
Those who = unemployed, long-term sick, low-income families in areas oh high level deprivation
