NCJ Number
189400
Date Published
2001
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This paper presents evidence that indicates the emotional scars of chronic criminal victimization can be so deep as to render daily life meaningless.
Abstract
The material on which this paper is based stems from doctoral research conducted at the University of Manchester (England) between 1993 and 1997 (Shaw, 1997). This involved a study of fear of crime, in which the relative importance of gender and repeat victimization was explored. The research addressed the effects of these two variables on general levels of fear, on various crimes, and within diverse spaces. Also examined were the effects of such fear on people's adoption of safety measures. Interview material that reflects the views of six male and female chronic victims is discussed in this paper. These chronic victims did not have the opportunity for emotional wounds to heal between successive victimizations. The healing process for victimization is similar to the bereavement process, which consists of four phases: numbness and dazedness; anger and acute emotional pain; depression, disorganization, and despair; and acceptance and the resumption of normal activities. For chronic victims there was no resumption of normal states of mind and activities. There may have been a general resumption of daily activities, but anger sometimes resurfaced, and the numbness experienced immediately after victimization persisted. A sense of safety and control over one's life was undermined. This paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the training of police officers in responding to crime victims. 49 references and 3 notes