NCJ Number
62257
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF VICTIMOLOGY IS DEVELOPED WHICH PERCEIVES VICTIMIZATION AS OCCURRING IN A SPECTRUM BROADER THAN CRIMINOLOGY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
VICTIMOLOGY, WHEN VIEWED SOLELY AS AN EXTENSION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A STUDY THAT NEGLECTS VICTIMIZATIONS OCCURRING IN OTHER SOCIAL, NATURAL, BIOPHYSICAL, AND TECHNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS. YET COMPLEX OPPORTUNITIES FOR VICTIMIZATION EXIST IN THE AFOREMENTIONED TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL SUFFERS A LOSS OF PROPERTY, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, STATUS, AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE IN INTERACTION WITH THE VARIOUS TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS COMPOSING HIS/HER WORLD, VICTIMIZATION OCCURS. THE GENERATION OF A MULTITUDE OF SUCH INDIVIDUAL CRISES CAN CREATE SOCIAL IMBALANCES IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. STUDY OF THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF ALL TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL VICTIMIZATIONS, THE TYPES OF VICTIMIZATION TO WHICH A SOCIETY SHOULD RESPOND, AND THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES SOCIETY SHOULD MAKE OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF A GENERALIZED VICTIMOLOGY. THESE CONCEPTUAL SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED AS A BASIS FOR THE FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY OF STUDY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A THEORY OF VICTIMIZATION. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)