NCJ Number
49710
Date Published
1978
Length
266 pages
Annotation
THIS PORTRAIT OF CRIME VICTIMS PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF HOW MAJOR CRIMES -- MURDER, RAPE, ASSAULT, AND ROBBERY -- AFFECT THEIR VICTIMS.
Abstract
THE VICTIMS OF CRIME FORM A BROAD CONSTITUTUENCY, EXTENDING FAR BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL TARGETS OF SINGLE CRIMINAL ACTS TO INCLUDE THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND EVEN MERE WITNESSES. THIS GROUP OF DIVERSE CITIZENS ARE BEST CHARACTERIZED AS THE FORGOTTEN MAJORITY, AND THIS VOLUME ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY THEIR PLIGHT, REVEAL HOW SOCIETY REVICTIMIZES THEM, AND UNDERSCORE WHAT MUST BE DONE TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AS HUMAN BEINGS. CASE STUDIES ARE PRESENTED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE EFFECT OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE ON THOSE WHO ARE BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY EXPOSED TO IT. IN 1976, 11,304,788 AMERICANS WERE THE VICTIMS OF CRIME; BUT THIS FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE GREATER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE -- THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS, WITNESSES, FRIENDS -- WHO ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY CRIMINALITY. NEITHER DOES THIS FIGURE REFLECT THAT GREATER CONSTITUENCY -- THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AT LARGE -- THAT MUST BEAR THE COST, IN HIGHER TAXES AND PRICES, OF AN AVERAGE $4.8 BILLION A YEAR IN LOST WAGES, MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND PROPERTY LOSSES RESULTING FROM CRIME. THE EFFECTS OF CRIME ON BOTH THIS GREATER AND LESSER CONSTITUENCY ARE ASSESSED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VICTIMS OF MURDER, RAPE, ASSAULT, AND ROBBERY. ASPECTS OF VICTIM INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE, THE COURTS, HOSPITALS AND MORGUES. AND THE LARGELY INDIFFERENT PUBLIC ARE EXAMINED. SOCIETY'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH CONSOLATION, COMPASSION, AND JUST COMPENSATION IS CONSIDERED. REFERENCE NOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)