Chapter 12 Victims and Victimology This is not

Chapter 12 Victims and Victimology “This is not right — the people who are doing this should be sent to jail. We are not animals — even animals are happy. ” — Quote from a trafficking victim taken to Canada Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 12 - 1

Learning Objectives • Understand the role of victimology within the criminological area. • Identify and describe the key theories of victimology. • Identify some of the key findings regarding victims of crime. • Understand discuss the new challenges and direction of victimology. • Recognize and identify the range of government services for victims. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 2

Overview • “crime, for the most part, is injury inflicted on another person” von Hentig, 1948: 383 • What it is: – the study of the victim or victims of a particular offender. – an analysis of victim characteristics – "victim profiling" (Holmes & Holmes ‘ 96) • Why study victims? – Traditionally been neglected – ‘one of the most beneficial tools in classifying and solving a violent crime’ (Douglas et al. , ’ 92) Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 3

• ROOTS OF VICTIMOLOGY: • Benjamin Mendelsohn (1900 -1998) - Victimology should be part of criminology - Hans von Hentig (1887 -1974) - The Criminal and His Victim - Classified victims according to personality - Importance of subject-object relations - Case studies: - Reena Virk - ‘Fred’ Shipman - Holly Jones - ’ 70 s and ’ 80 s ‘art of blaming the victim’ - Role of political and ideological climate Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 4

• Victimology: – Emerged as an applied discipline – 1 st symposium 1973 • Key conclusions • 10 th symposium Montreal – ‘ 50 s and ‘ 60 s – dramatic change – ‘ 80 s and ’ 90 s - consolidation & theorizing – UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power – ’ 85 1. www. unhchr. ch/html/menu 3/b/h_comp 49. htm Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 5

History of Victimization Surveys • Original objective to count the ‘dark figure’ of crime • Originally NOT concerned with victims • Inadequacy of official statistics as crime indicator • Provide estimate of hidden victimization Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 6

Victimization Surveys • Provide information on the aftermath of their victimization • Allows researcher to assess the CJS response to victims • Surveys enable researchers to gauge public attitudes towards the CJS • Enables the researcher to measure levels of fear of crime • Enables the researcher to tap into the number of victims who do not report their victimization Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 7

Advantages and Disadvantages VS • Extend and distribution of selected crimes • Measure impact of selected crimes • Assess risk of victimization • Assess victim’s perception on the functioning & effectiveness – CJS • Caution: • Return on time and money • Possible backlash • standardization Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 8

Different Major Surveys • CUVS ’ 80 s – Telephone: 60 000 – 8 categories of crime • GSS ’ 88 – Standardized and consistent format – Box 12. 2 • VAWS ’ 93 – Women… 2001, ’ 02 Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile • ICVS (Jan Van Dijk 1947 - (Box 12. 5) – 1989, 1992, 166, 2000, 2004 Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 9

Victim Characteristics • Social and demographic details… • Age: – youth vs. elderly • Gender: – Differences in risk by type of crime • Social status: – Economic strata and crime prone areas • Marital status: – Lifestyle matters • Race and ethnicity: – Controversial and politically charged • Repeat victimization: – Predisposition, propensity, proneness & vulnerability Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 10

Theoretical models • Victim precipitation theory: – Von Hentig – actions are the telltale – Stereotype and typologies – Work of Henri Ellenberger • Lifestyle Model: – Significance of one’s lifestyle • More active & More social = RISK! – Contrast with opportunity theory – 3 related hypothesis Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 11

• Routine Activities Theory: – Opportunity or suitable targets – Lack of capable guardians/protectors – Motivated offender • Integrated Theory Victimization – Opportunities to association to hi-risk activities… structural/cultural proneness – ! Too many factors Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 12

The Emergence of Victims’ Rights • 1985 UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power • www. unhchr. ch/html/menu 3/b/h_comp 49. htm • 2003 CDN Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime • Victim Impact Statements (VIS): – Right to have his/her impressions re the offence read/heard in court – 1988 CDN legislation (see Box 12. 6) – 1995 standardized the process – A voluntary option Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 13

• Victim Assistance Programs: – Victim compensation – controversial – 1988 victim fine surcharge – Provincial exception – Court Services – Assist victims while attending court and in dealing with the CJS – Victim Service Programs – Diverse and widespread – Public Education – Usually associated with legal and/or CJ organization – Varying degrees of ‘success’ Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 14

• Crisis Intervention – Victims experience an array of difficulties/challenges – Facilitate the healing process • Empathy, understanding & validation • Victim-Offender reconciliation programs (VORP) – Restorative justice movement – Mennonite and First Nations – Volunteer based • Evaluation of Victim Assistance Programs – – – Mixed results Accessibility Truly meeting victims’ needs Restorative justice model Possible extension of state control Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 15

New Directions in Victimology • Constantly evolving • Fattah ’ 97: – Alternative healing practices – Role of restorative justice model – Bridging barriers between criminal and civil courts • A major factor in a criminal event • Improve UCR data • Increasing presence in criminology & criminal justice Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 16

SUMMARY • Victimology a major focus • Risk related to: age, gender, SES and setting, and lifestyle • Key theories include: precipitation theory, lifestyle model, & RAT • Increasingly bridging theory and practice: – Impact statement, public education, & VORP – Victim’s right and restorative justice • Victim no longer the forgotten factor in the criminal event Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 17