NCJ Number
150690
Journal
Derecho Penal y Criminologia Volume: 12 Issue: 40 Dated: (January/April 1990) Pages: 117-131
Date Published
1990
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The impact on victimology theory of a German text on "victimdogma" in which the victim is held co-responsible or even fully responsible for the crime committed is discussed.
Abstract
Victimdogma theory assesses what part the victim played in the crime and how the victim might have affected, positively or negatively, the criminal responsibility of the accused. Although this victimdogma concept may be considered radical, mention is made of cases in which judges commonly take note of and assess the possible impact of the victim's conduct on the crime committed, for example in sexual crime and racketeering cases. In the German text, a distinction is made between relation crimes, in which the victim may knowingly take part, and intervention crimes, as in homicide in which the victim may be unaware of the criminal action. To assess the possible effects of these victimdogma considerations, it is suggested that victimology theories should include consideration of the "circle of responsibility" or precrime conduct for both the criminal and the victim, especially in cases of sexual crime and racketeering. 75 notes