NCJ Number
57586
Journal
ISRAEL ANNALS OF PSYCHIATRY AND RELATED DISCIPLINES Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 362-385
Date Published
1976
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT STATE OF VICTIMOLOGY IS ASSESSED AND AN AGENA FOR FUTURE WORK GIVEN, STRESSING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND CUMULATIVE EFFORTS AMONG NATIONS.
Abstract
THE FIRST SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDY INSTITUTE ON VICTIMOLOGY PRESENTED THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES, DEFINING THE PARAMETERS OF VICTIMOLOGY IN THE BROADEST SENSE. A LIST OF RELEVANT ISSUES INCLUDED SOCIETAL AND INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS TO VICTIMIZATION, VICTIM AGGRESSOR RELATIONSHIPS, POLITICAL PURPOSES, AND PATHOLOGY. A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS WAS DRAWN UP GOVERNING THE TASK OF INTERVENTION. THESE INCLUDED SUCH ISSUES AS SUBMITTING UNRESERVED JURISDICTION TO THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, AND THAT THE UNITED NATIONS DRAFT A NEW WORLD CODE. RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY WAS NEXT DISCUSSED AND FIVE AREAS WERE SUGGESTED: SURVEY METHODS, ARCHIVAL METHODS, OBSERVATIONAL METHODS, EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, AND NONQUANTITATIVE RESEARCH. THE INNOVATIVE VICTIMIZATION SURVEY WAS DISCUSSED. IN THIS METHOD INDIVIDUALS, HOUSEHOLDS, AND BUSINESSES ARE SURVEYED TO OBTAIN A MORE ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF THE INCIDENCE OF VICTIMIZATION AND THE INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ON THE POPULATION AT LARGE. NEXT WAS ADDRESSED THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM AND THE EXTENT THE VICTIM ENCOURAGES, CONTRIBUTES TO, OR PARTICIPATES IN HIS OWN VICTIMIZATION. EMPIRICAL INFORMATION IN VARIOUS STUDIES SUGGESTS THAT, FOR THE TIME AND PLACE AND FOR THE DEFINITIONS USED, THE VICTIM PLAYS A CONSIDERABLE ROLE IN HOMICIDE, ASSAULT, AND ROBBERY. THE NEXT TOPIC WAS THE REPORTING OF CRIME. FACTORS LEADING TO A DECREASE IN REPORTING AND THOSE LEADING TO AN INCREASE, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS WERE COMMENTED ON. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE WAS AN AREA OF DISCUSSION THAT HAS NOT BEEN RESEARCHED THOROUGHLY. QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED INCLUDED HOW DO VICTIMS AFFECT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH THEIR DECISIONS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT FURTHER RESEARCH WAS VITAL IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE INTERRELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE VICTIM AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. THE FINAL SESSION WAS DEVOTED TO METHODS OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF VICTIMIZATION. A MODEL WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A VIABLE METHOD FOR ADDRESSING PRIMARY ASPECTS OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION USING THE TOPICS OF THE STATE OF THE ART, THE PROBLEMS, AND POLICY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)