NCJ Number
103879
Date Published
1986
Length
408 pages
Annotation
This overview of victimology reviews the historic role of victims in society, examines victimization patterns and effects, considers the criminal justice system's response to victims, and proposes a broader definition of victimization that includes human rights violations.
Abstract
The historic role of victims in society is traced from victims' primary involvement in responding to their victimization in early societies to the virtual elimination of victim involvement in state responses to victimization. In recent decades, however, victims have reemerged as important participants in victimization responses. An examination of victimization patterns addresses victim-offender stereotypes of victims as affluent, law-abiding citizens and offenders as the poor underclass. To varying degrees, all persons victimize others and are victimized themselves. Social, economic, and political institutions also victimize people to the extent that they inflict debilitating psychological, financial, and physical costs. Not the least of the victimizing institutions is the criminal justice system, which is typically insensitive to the rights and needs of both victims and defendants. The discussion of victim services, such as compensation, restitution, involvement in case processing, and medical services, notes that the services are helpful but often fail to have their intended effect and do not reduce or prevent victimization. This book expands the concept of victimization to include all violations of human rights by individuals and institutions so as to inflict adverse impacts on persons' lives. Under such a model, victim advocacy is viewed as a commitment to change that advances social and political democracy. Chapter notes and name and subject indexes.