NCJ Number
90780
Journal
Revue internationale de criminology et de police technique Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1981) Pages: 353-366
Date Published
1981
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article assesses the contribution of victimology research to a better understanding of criminal phenomena and to more humane treatment of those victimized by criminal acts.
Abstract
Aspects of crime so far considered in victimology research concern the extent to which victims contribute to their own victimization, generalizable victim characteristics, the reaction dynamics and consequences of victimization, and society's response to persons victimized by crime. Policy reforms guided by this research have produced victim assistance programs that allay immediate physical and financial hardship as well as seek to mitigate psychological damage and witness assistance programs that protect witnesses from harassment and danger and encourage victim participation in criminal justice procedures. In general, both research and intervention efforts in victimology have been action-oriented, providing service delivery and promoting attitude change rather than developing new directions in criminological theory. Indeed, victimology does remain to be integrated into the whole of criminology, where all those involved in crime, the victim as well as the offender, receive a balanced share in the pursuit of justice both theoretically and practically. Footnotes and 30 references are given.