NCJ Number
54604
Journal
ETUDES INTERNATIONALES DE PSYCHO-SOCIOLOGIE CRIMINELLE Issue: 26-28 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1975) Pages: 49-52
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
DETERMINATION OF THE VICTIM'S ROLE IS ESSENTIAL TO CRIMINOLOGY, LEGAL DOCTRINE, PROCEDURAL DECISIONMAKING, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY.
Abstract
THE VICTIM OF CRIME IS THE INJURED OR ENDANGERED PARTY, WHO CAN BE ONE PERSON OR AN ENTITY. VICTIMOLOGY HELPS TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OFFENDER AND VICTIM (PREEXISTING AS WITHIN SUBCULTURES OR ETHNIC GROUPS), DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP (I.E., DISHONOR, VENGEANCE), AND DISCOVER THE DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE CRIME WITHIN THE SOCIOCULTURAL MILIEU OF THE OFFENDER AND VICTIM. IF JUSTICE IS ADMINISTERED OUTSIDE THE FORMAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE VICTIM ACCEPTS A DEGREE OF RISK. MOTIVES FOR CRIME CAN ALSO BE TRACED TO VICTIMS' ACTS OF PROVOCATION WHICH OFTEN INSPIRE IMPULSIVE AND VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTION. ABNORMAL MOTIVES FOR CRIME RESULT FROM ABNORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENDER OR THE VICTIM (MENTAL ILLNESS, PATHOLOGICAL NATURE) AND ABNORMAL RELATIONSHIPS, (JEALOUS LOVERS). ANOTHER CATEGORY CAN BE FOUND IN VICTIMS OF RAPE, SWINDLE, THEFT, BLACKMAIL, OR ABUSE OF CONFIDENCE; IN THESE CASES, THE VICTIM IS USED BY THE CRIMINAL AS THE MEANS TO SELFISH ENDS. A MORE SOCIALLY DANGEROUS CRIMINAL CHOOSES VICTIMS FOR IDEOLOGICAL MOTIVES, WHETHER POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, OR RACIAL; HATRED IS DIRECTED TO A CONCEPT OR ENTITY RATHER THAN AN INDIVIDUAL (I.E., TERRORISM). ONE TREND TO BE NOTED FROM THESE CATEGORIES IS, THAT AS THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS FOR EACH CRIME GROWS, THE OVERALL SOCIAL DANGEROUSNESS OF THE OFFENDER INCREASES. THE STUDY OF THESE CATEGORIES AND TRENDS CAN CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO SOCIAL DEFENSE, CRIME PREVENTION, AND FORMATION OF PENAL POLICY. --IN FRENCH. (MHP)