Victim-Precipitation in Some Violent Offences

• NCJ Number: 103786
• Journal: Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (July 1986) Pages: 125-131
• Author(s): G S Bajpai; H S Maheshwari
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: India

Annotation

Victims' behavior that precipiates violent offenses and its relationship to victim demographic characteristics was investigated in a sample of 140 males victimized during 1984 in India.

Abstract

Of these cases, 110 involved simple harm, 22 involved grievous harm, and 8 involved attempted murder. Victim precipitating behaviors included verbal provocation (39.34 percent of cases), physical provocation (29.5 percent), showing of a weapon (16.39 percent), and use of a weapon (14.75 percent). There were no victim precipitating factors in the remaining 79 cases. Younger victims (20 to 29 years old) were more likely to have engaged in precipitating behaviors than were older victims. Similarly, employed persons were more likely to have precipitated the incident than were unemployed persons. Contrary to the hypothesis that illiterate persons would be more precipitating, no significant differences were found as a function of victim educational level, nor were there any significant differences as a function of marital status. 5 tables and 7 references.