An Introduction to
Victimology
Objectives
At the end of the lesson the students shall be
able to:
Explain the concept of victimology in terms of
the history and theories.
Understanding the scientific study of suffering
due to crime and the relationship between the
victim and the perpetrator
VICTIMOLOGY
branch of criminology that scientifically
studies the relationship between an
injured party and an offender by
examining the causes and the nature of
the consequent suffering.
Victimology is the study of “crime targets,”
showed that a person becomes a victim of
crime consciously(knowingly) and unconsciously
(unknowingly).
A person could become a victim due to his own
action or fault. He somehow contributes to the
commission of a crime because of his own making.
VICTIMIZATION
in This report has two meanings, "an act
that exploits or victimizes someone" and
"adversity resulting from being made a
victim" (Victimization, N.d).
Victimity and Victimizer
Victimity refers to the state, quality, or fact of being a
victim
to treat someone in an intentionally unfair way, especially
because of their race, sex, beliefs, etc.
Victimizer refers to a person who victimizes others
THE NATURE OF VICTIMIZATION
VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS Social and demographic characteristics
distinguish victims and non-victims. Among them are age, gender, social status,
marital status, race, and residence.
AGE – victim data reveal that young people face a much higher victimization
risk than do an older person
GENDER – except for the crimes of rape and sexual assault, makes are more
likely than females to suffer violent crime. Men are twice as likely as a
woman to experience aggravated assault and robbery. Women, however, are
six times more likely than men to be victims of rape or sexual assault. When
men are the victims of violent crime, the perpetrator is a stranger; women are
much more likely to be attacked by a relative than are men. About two-
thirds of all attacks against women are committed by a husband,
boyfriend, family member, or acquaintance.
SOCIAL STATUS – people in the lowest income categories are much more
likely to become crime victims than those who are more affluent. Poor individuals
are most likely the victims of crime because they live-in crime-prone areas, such
as the slums and the urban regions. Although the poor are more likely to suffer
violent crimes, the wealthy are more likely to be targets of personal theft crimes,
such as pocket-picking and purse (bag) snatching.
MARITAL STATUS – discovered and never-married males and females are
victimized more often than married people. Widows and widowers have the
lowest victimization risk.
RACE – in the U.S., African Americans (blacks) are more likely than whites to
be victims of violent crime.
RESIDENCE – urban residents are more likely than rural or suburban residents
to become victims of crime
TYPE OF CHARACTERISTICS THAT INCREASE
THE POTENTIAL FOR VICTIMIZATION
1. TARGET VULNERABILITY. Victim’s physical
weakness or psychological distress renders them incapable
of resisting or deterring crime and makes them easy
targets.
2. TARGET GRATIFIABILITY. Some victims
have some quality, possession, kill, or attribute
that anoffender wants to obtain, use, have access to, or
manipulate. Having attractive properties, such as aleather
coat, may make one vulnerable to predatory crime.
3. TARGET ANTAGONISM – some
characteristics increase risk because they
arouse anger, jealousy, or destructive
impulses in potential offenders. Being gay or
effeminate, for example, may bring on
underserved attacks in the street; being
argumentative and alcoholic may provoke the
HISTORY OF VICTIMOLOGY
The scientific study of victimology can be traced back
to the 1940s and 1950s. through Benjamin Mendelsohn
and Hans Von Hentig who began to explore the field of
victimology by creating typologies.
They are considered the fathers of the study of
victimology.
Mendelsohn was the first to coin the term Victimology
in 1940. These new victimologists began to study the
behaviors and vulnerabilities of victims, such as the
resistance of rape victims and characteristics of the types
of people who were victims of crime.
Victimology and Criminology
Victimology focuses on helping victims heal
after a crime, while
Criminology aims to understand the
criminals' motives and the underlying causes
of crime.
Theories of Victimology
Victim Precipitation Theory
Lifestyle Theory
Deviant Place Theory
Routine Activities Theory
Victim Precipitation Theory
states that some victims initiate the
confrontation that leads to their
victimization, whether actively or
passively.
Victim Precipitation Theory
Passive precipitation means that the
victim unconsciously behaves in a way or
has specific characteristics that instigate or
encourage an attack.
Victim Precipitation Theory
Passive precipitation is typically the
result of a power struggle; job promotions,
successes, love interests, etc., can all give
rise to a power struggle and cause passive
precipitation.
Victim Precipitation Theory
Active precipitation, on the other hand,
occurs when the victim engages in
threatening or provocative actions.
Lifestyle Theory
maintains that criminals target individuals
due to their lifestyle choices. Many
victims’ options expose them to criminal
offenders and situations where crime is
likely to occur.
The researchers found that the following
conditions were met:
The victim and offender had the opportunity
to come in contact with one another
There was some dispute between the two
The offender was willing to use force or
stealth to achieve his or her goal.
The researchers believed that these factors
were based largely on the victim’s lifestyle.
HIGH-RISK VICTIMS – victims in this group have a lifestyle that makes them
a higher risk of being a victim of a violent crime. The most apparent high-risk
victim is the prostitute. Prostitutes place themselves at risk every single time they
get into strangers, and for the most part, attempt to conceal their actions for legal
reasons. Offenders often rely on all of these factors and specifically target
prostitutes because such conditions lower their chances of becoming suspects in
the crime. Therefore, in the example, the prostitute is a high-risk victim creating a
lower risk to the offender.
MODERATE RISK VICTIMS – victims that fall into this category are lower
risk victims, but for some reason is in the situation that placed them at a higher
level of risk.
LOW-RISK VICTIMS – the lifestyle of these individuals would typically not
place them in any degree of risk for becoming a victim of a violent crime. These
individuals stay out of trouble, do not have peers that are criminal, are aware of
their surroundings, and attempt to take precautions so as not to be victimized.
They lock the doors, do not use drugs, and do not go into areas that are dark and
secluded
Deviant Place Theory
is the theory that the more often a victim visits
a dangerous place, the more likely they will be
exposed to crime, which raises their chance of
being victimized. The theory states that the
victim does not play a role in encouraging the
crime but is still prone to being a victim
because they live in a socially disorganized
high-crime location.
Routine Activities Theory
Lack of Capable Motivated Offenders
Guardian - Links delinquency rates to
- Believe that children will the number of motivated
commit crimes if they are delinquents to commit crimes.
undetected by parents, If the number of out-of-school
youth exceeds the number of
guardians, teachers,
youths in school, then
police, or security guards delinquency rates may rise.
Suitable Targets
- Availability of suitable
targets such as valuable
materials (money, gadgets,
jewelry, and others).
a. Suitable Targets. There are suitable targets as
long as we have poverty.
b. Motivated Offenders. There are motivated
offenders since victimology assumes anyone
will try to get away with something if they can.
c. Absence of Guardians. It exists when
there are few defensible spaces (natural
surveillance areas) and absence of private
security’s the government can't do the job alone
TYPOLOGY OF CRIMINAL
VICTIMS
The Young – they are weak due to age and
immaturity
The Female – those who are often less
physically powerful and easily dominated by
males.
TYPOLOGY OF CRIMINAL
VICTIMS
The Old – they are incapable of physical
defense and the common object of confidence
schemes.
The Mentally Defective – those who are
unable to think clearly
TYPOLOGY OF CRIMINAL
VICTIMS
The Immigrant – those that are unsure of the
rules of conduct in the surrounding society.
The Minorities – racial prejudice may lead to
victimization or unequal treatment by the
agency of justice.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES OF
VICTIMS
The Depressed – the submissive person under
emotional conditions.
The Acquisitive or Greedy – person who
wants more than what is sufficient.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES OF
VICTIMS
The wanton or Overly Sensual – those are
the person who is ruled by passion and
thoughtlessly seeking pleasure.
The Lonesome – a person who eventually
becomes a victim of wanting companionship.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES OF
VICTIMS
The Heartbroken – one who is emotionally
disturbed by virtue of heartaches and pains.
The Tormented – a victim who asked for it,
often from his own family or friends.
Who is a Crime Victim?
Crime victim generally refers to any
person, group, or entity who has
suffered injury or loss due to illegal
activity. The harm can be physical,
psychological, or economic
A victim refers to a person who has suffered direct, or threatened,
physical, emotional or pecuniary harm as a result of the commission
of a crime; or in the case of a victim being an institutional entity,
anyof the same harms by an individual or authorized representative
of another entity.
Group harms are normally covered under civil and constitutional
law, with hate crime being an emerging criminal law development,
although criminal law tends to treat all cases as individualized.
Besides “primary crime victims”, there are also secondary
victims who experience the harm second hand, such as intimate
partners or significant others of rape victims or children of a
battered woman. It may also make sense to talk about tertiary
crime victims who experience the harm vicariously, such as
through media accounts or from watching television
Level of Victim
Culpability Spectrum
with Examples
1.Completely innocent victim:
a victim who bears no responsibility at all for
victimization; victimized simply because of his or her
nature, such as being a child
2.Victim with minor guilt:
a victim who is victimized due to ignorance; a victim who
inadvertently places himself or herself in harm’s way
3.Victim as guilty as offender/voluntary victim:
a victim who bears as much responsibility as the
offender; a person who, for example, enters into a
suicide pact
4.Victim more guilty than offender:
a victim who instigates or provokes his or her own
victimization
5. Most guilty victim:
a victim who is victimized during the
perpetration of a crime or asa result of
crime
6.Simulating or imaginary victim:
a victim who is not victimized at all but,
instead,fabricates a victimization event
Crime Victim Services and Victims
Right
CRIME VICTIMS SERVICES Crime victim services are programs that are
recognized to support a victim through the criminal justice system.
Coping and help-seeking One form of active coping is seeking help from others,
and it can be from family and friends or police. Attributions about victimization
may play a role in whether an individual seeks help or from whom they seek it.
Becoming a victim is an unpleasant and unwanted life experience at best.
It is important to remember that victims do not choose to be victimized.
Coping with and recovering from victimization are complex processes.
Unfortunately, some victims never able to do so.
Other services that victims can expect to be provided
with:
Compassionate and respectful treatment
Information on the legal proceedings and on their rights
The presentation of their views to decision-makers
Legal aid swift case processing
Protection of their privacy and identity in appropriate
cases
Protection from retaliation and intimidation where
required
Court-ordered and state compensation
A special treatment to reflect special need
Victim Rights
1. The right to be treated with dignity, respect, and sensitivity
generally have the right to be treated with courtesy, fairness, and
care by law enforcement and
2.The right to be informed
this right is to make sure that victims have the information they
need to exercise their rights and to seek services and resources that
are available to them.
3. Right to protection
the right to protection from threats, intimidation, or retaliation
during criminal proceedings. Insome instances, depending on the
jurisdiction
4. Right to Apply for Compensation
The purpose of compensation is to recognize victims’ financial losses and to help
them recover some of these costs. Some types of damages that are usually
covered include:
5. Right to Restitution from the Offender
Offender-which means the offender must pay to repair some of the damage that
resulted from the crime. The purposeof this right is to hold offenders directly
responsible to victims for the financial harm they caused
6. Right to Prompt Return of Personal Property
The prompt return of personal property reduces inconvenience to victims
and helps restore their sense of security
7. Right to a Speedy Trial
8. Right to Enforcement of Victim’s Rights
Recommendations for Victims
Communicate with a victim advocate who can offer support, as well
as information about the criminal justice system, and referrals to
other resources
Take steps to strengthen your sense of safety and security. Work
with a victim advocate to develop a safety plan and obtain a
restraining order against the offender. Install new locks, a security
system, or additional lighting.
Mental health professionals are offered help in the recovery course.
Call a crisis hotline and arrange forgone-on-one counseling or group
counseling.
Join a support group to talk with others who have
experienced similar crimes and learn what has helped
them heal. A victim advocate will assist you in finding a
support group if one is available.
Recall how you may have overcome difficulties or
challenges in the past and try to use some of the same
coping strategies in your current situation
Try writing or keeping a journal about your feelings.
Focus on the positive things in your life and make a list of
reasons to recover
Crime prevention- refers to the strategies that are pursued
to prevent the development of illegal activities, the
anticipation, recognition, appraisal of a crime risk, and
initiation of some action to remove or reduce it. A better
term than crime than crime prevention is victimization
prevention.
Victimization prevention- this refers to the activities that
would discourage criminals from attacking particular
targets such as homes, warehouses, stores, cars, or
persons. Victimization prevention demands that potential
victims become crime conscious.
Crime control- measures that are taken in response to acts
that have already been committed.
1. Avoidance strategies This are actions taken by the people to
limit their personal exposure to dangerous persons and frightening
situations. This is done to achieve victimization prevention.
Example: not allowing strangers into their homes, Ignoring
conversation from strangers
2.Risk management tactics that are employed to manage the
reduction of victimization risks and minimize the chance of being
harmed when exposure is unavoidable.
Example: walking home with other people, carrying weapon
3.Crime prevention through environmental design. Stresses the
importance of creating well-protected defensible space by the target
hardening. Target hardening means adding lights, fences, and
maintaining effecting surveillance.
