NCJ Number
59801
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A COMPREHENSIVE THEORY OF VICTIMOLOGY DOES NOT EXIST AND ITS AREAS OF RESEARCH ARE STILL BEING DEFINED. YET, AS THIS HISTORICAL OVERVIEW POINTS OUT, ITS CONCERNS ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE JUSTICE PROCESS.
Abstract
LESS THAN A DECADE AGO ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WERE WORKING IN THE FIELD OF VICTIMOLOY, BUT TODAY THE FIGURE IS EASILY MORE THAN 2,000 WORLDWIDE. THE FIELD'S TWO MAJOR CONCERNS ARE VICTIM-CENTERED RESEARCH (VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS, CASE STUDIES, DESCRIPTIVE AND INFERENTIAL STUDIES, AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS) AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED VICTIMIZATION SURVEY WAS A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED IN AARHUS, DENMARK, IN 1720 TO MEASURE THE EXTENT OF CRIME. VICTIM COMPENSATION AND RESTITUTION PROGRAMS CAN BOTH BE TRACED BACK TO ANCIENT TIMES BUT ARE ONLY NOW BECOMING IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. VICTIM ASSISTANCE IS FAIRLY NEW, GROWING OUT OF WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. IT OFFERS AID WITH THE FINANCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE CRIME. THIS OVERVIEW GIVES THE HISTORY OF THESE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF VICTIMOLOGY, SUMMARIZES THE STATE-OF-THE-ART, AND REVIEWS TRENDS IN RESEARCH. ALTHOUGH THE DISCIPLINE IS NEW, IT HAS ALREADY INCREASED COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE PLIGHT OF THE VICTIM AND CHANGED POLICE AND COURT HANDLING OF VICTIMS. EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)