NCJ Number
47572
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DESCRIBES VARIOUS DEFINITIONS AND THEORIES OF VICTIMIZATION AND VICTIMS. VICTIMIZATION IS EXAMINED AS A SOCIAL PROCESS IN WHICH SOCIETY'S REACTION TO AND APPROVAL OF VICTIMIZATION IS SIGNIFICANT.
Abstract
VICTIMOLOGY HAS ITS ROOTS IN SEVERAL DISCIPLINES INCLUDING CRIMINOLOGY, LAW, MEDICINE, AND PSYCHOLOGY. IDENTIFYING THE SCOPE OF VICTIMOLOGY REQUIRES THE DEFINITION OF VICTIMS. THE VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP, THE VICTIMS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CRIMES, THEIR COMPENSATIONS FOR THE INJURIES SUFFERED, AND THEIR TREATMENT BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE CONSIDERED. MANY VICTIMOLOGISTS ADOPT A SOCIAL-SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE VICTIM'S SITUATION AND BLAME VICTIMS FOR THEIR FATES. VICTIMOLOGY CAN BE CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF TWO SUBDISCIPLINES OF CRIMINOLOGY, OF WHICH ONE FOCUSES ON THE CRIMINAL AND THE OTHER FOCUSES ON THE VICTIM. THE MOST DEFINITE ENDEAVORS TO ESTABLISH VICTIMOLOGY AS ITS OWN DISCIPLINE HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE LAWYER B MENDELSOHN. MENDELSOHN PROPOSES THE CONCEPT 'VICTIMITY,' TO PERTAIN TO THE SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ARE COMMON TO ALL VICTIMS. BOTH THE TERM AND THE CONCEPT OF VICTIMIZATION REFER TO SOCIETAL PROCESSES THAT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE EVENT SIMULTANEOUSLY RENDER THE VICTIM DEFENSELESS AND EVEN PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EVENT. A VICTIMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION SHOULD CONSIDER THE IMMEDIATE SOURCE OF VICTIMIZATION, THE VICTIM, THE SITUATION AND SOCIAL SURROUNDINGS, AND SOCIETY'S REACTION TO THE ORIGINAL VICTIMIZATION. SOCIAL APPROVAL OF VICTIMIZATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS WELL AS THE SOCIETAL REACTION TO AND INTERACTION WITH THE PRIMARY VICTIMIZATION, WHICH CAN RESULT IN SECONDARY VICTIMIZATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)