NCJ Number
14835
Date Published
1970
Length
127 pages
Annotation
TYPOLOGY OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS, DISCUSSION OF CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY BECOME VICTIMS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PROPOSED REFORM OF THE WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL CODE.
Abstract
THE POSITION OF THE VICTIM UNDER THE LAW IN HISTORY AND IN FICTION IS TRACED, WITH A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES BEING PROVIDED. A TYPOLOGY OF THE MOST LIKELY VICTIMS OF CRIME IS PRESENTED WHICH INCLUDES SAILORS ASHORE, THE CLIENTS OF PROSTITUTES, CHILDREN, THE AGED, THE INTOXICATED, THE HANDICAPPED, MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS, AND THOSE LIVING ALONE OR IN ISOLATION. CASE HISTORIES ARE USED TO SHOW THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THESE PEOPLE ARE VICTIMIZED. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO INSTANCES WHERE THE VICTIM HIMSELF PROVOKES OR ENCOURAGES THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENSE. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT, IN THE PROCESS OF REFORMING THE WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL CODE, CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO WHETHER THE VICTIM HAD BEHAVED IN A FRIENDLY MANNER TOWARDS THE OFFENDER, WHETHER THE VICTIM HIMSELF WAS INVOLVED IN THE OFFENSE IN ANY WAY, WHETHER HE DEFENDED HIMSELF VIGOROUSLY AND ESPECIALLY VALUED HIS DAMAGED PROPERTY, WHETHER HE HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE OFFENDER, AND WHETHER THE VICTIM'S PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES CALLED FOR ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR HIM. FURTHERMORE, HE RECOMMENDS THAT THE CRIMINAL CODE INCLUDE A NEW OFFENSE INDUCEMENT TO COMMIT SUICIDE - TO PROTECT THE WEAKWILLED. HE ALSO RECOMMENDS DEFINITIONS COVERING THE ETHICS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP CONCERNING THE PATIENT'S CONSENT TO AN OPERATION. A DISCUSSION OF VICTIM COMPENSATION IS PRESENTED. NUMEROUS CITATIONS FROM OTHER WRITERS ON VICTIMOLOGY ARE INCLUDED, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN