NCJ Number
58202
Journal
Sociological Symposium Issue: 25 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (WINTER 1979) Pages: 6-17
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
REASONS BEHIND THE RELUCTANCE OF CRIMINOLOGISTS TO RECOGNIZE VICTIMIZATION AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM WORTHY OF RESEARCH ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONS, AND ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION IS CHANGING, CRIMINOLOGISTS GENERALLY HAVE NOT BEEN CONCERNED WITH THE STUDY OF VICTIMIZATION, I.E., WITH EXAMINING THE SUFFERING AND LOSSES OF VICTIMS. RESEARCHERS HAVE FAILED TO DEFINE THE OBJECTIVE CONDITION OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION SUBJECTIVELY AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SUCH CRIMES AS RAPE AND CHILD ABUSE, WHICH HAVE GENERATED THEIR OWN INTEREST AND ADVOCACY GROUPS). POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THIS SITUATION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1)THE TENDENCY OF MANY SOCIOLOGISTS AND CRIMINOLOGISTS TO VIEW THE CRIMINAL RATHER THAN THE VICTIM AS THE UNDERDOG; (2) THE FACT THAT ACADEMIC CRIMINOLOGISTS, BECAUSE OF THEIR SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS AND METHODS, OFTEN ARE REMOVED FROM FIRSTHAND OR EVEN VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE OF CRIME VICTIMIZATION; (3) THE IDEA THAT IF A PERSON IS VICTIMIZED, IT IS HIS OR HER OWN FAULT (A VIEW EVIDENT IN VICTIM PRECIPITATION RESEARCH); (4) CRIMINOLOGISTS' BELIEF THAT THEY CANNOT HELP CRIME VICTIMS; AND (5) A SIMPLE LACK OF INTEREST IN STUDYING VICTIMS' PROBLEMS. CRIMINOLOGISTS CAN AUGMENT THEIR ATTENTION TO CRIME VICTIMS WITHOUT NEGLECTING OTHER PURSUITS. VICTIMS DESERVE HELP IN OVERCOMING THEIR TRAUMAS, AND THE FIRST STEP TOWARD PROVIDING THAT HELP IS A WILLINGNESS AMONG CRIMINOLOGISTS TO TAKE VICTIMS' COMPLAINTS SERIOUSLY AND TO ARTICULATE VICTIMS' PROBLEMS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)