NCJ Number
93512
Journal
Victimology Volume: 8 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (1983) Pages: 227-236
Date Published
1983
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Empiric research in the field of criminality has, in some offenses, brought out the important role played by the victim as a relatively independent aspect of the offender's environment. From the viewpoint of modern criminology and related disciplines, the problem of victims of criminal offenses is given increasing attention.
Abstract
First, in this paper, the authors state their views of victimology and discuss also its short history. According to the literature approximately three main tendencies of victimology can be distinguished. The relationship between the victim and offender is not always a relationship represented by good and bad, but the victim him/herself is a dynamic element in any given encounter. In this connection, authors remark further on the situational sexual psychopathology. The second part of this paper is dedicated to the analysis of forensic psychiatric testimonies from a victimological viewpoint, and generally to the requirement of forensic psychiatric and psychological expertise because it is justified by the need for special prevention; also because of the high risk of a fatal outcome and serious injury inflicted upon the victim. In the analysis of cases we have concentrated on the following criteria: regarding the person of the offender's age, education, criminal history with possible assessment of criminal activity, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, intellectual capacity, history of trauma to the central nervous system objectively as well as subjectively and the frequency of inferiority complex, the family history of psychiatric treatment and generally stigmatisation; regarding the person the victim's average age, time, place of the offense, behavior of the victim, intellectual capacity, social status, passivity and activity of victim; the criminal act itself: sadistic practices, number of completed rapes, number of attempted rapes, and the number of rape/murders. We also have analyzed some theoretical questions of victimology, and of situative psychopathology together with some forensic psychiatric analyses of rape. The paper was based on research, using statistical methods and presented for discussion, pointing out the relation of victimology, forensic psychiatric and psychological insights of crimes. (Author abstract)