Crime Victims: Issues, Nature, and Theories - Prof. Cedric Taylor, Study notes of Criminology

Download Crime Victims: Issues, Nature, and Theories - Prof. Cedric Taylor and more Study notes Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! Outline for Chapter 3 I. Victimologists A. Criminologists who focus on crime victims II. Problems of Crime Victims A. NCVS estimates 24 million victimizations occur each year in the US B. Economic Loss 1. Property and productivity losses run in the hundreds of billions 2. System costs: cost of the justice system, legal costs, and treatment costs, total monetary loss due to crime is about $450 billion annually or $1800 per US citizen 3. Individual costs: victims may suffer losses in earnings and occupational attainment, as well as psychological and/or physical problems C. System abuse 1. Victims may suffer additional victimization by the justice system and medical profession a. Calloused attitudes of police, counselors, prosecutors, etc. b. Rape victims report adverse treatment from medical and mental health providers D. Long term stress 1. Victims may suffer stress and anxiety long after the incident. 2. Adolescent abuse victims report lower self esteem and suicidal tendencies, are at higher risk of being abused again, are more likely to run away from home, and may experience eating disorders and social problems including homelessness 3. Spousal abuse victims are often psychologically abused in addition to being physically abused 4. Some victims have to deal with a resulting physical disability including a growing number who suffer paralyzing spinal cord injuries E. Fear 1. Fundamental life change—view world more suspiciously 2. Victims of violent crime are the most deeply affected 3. Rather than forgetting the past, some have found confronting it to be therapeutic F. Antisocial behavior 1. Strong evidence that people who are crime victims seem more likely to commit crimes themselves. Neglect, physical and sexual abuse experienced as a child increases the odds a victim will later be arrested. 2. Cycle of violence a. Abuse-crime phenomenon—children more likely to engage in violent behavior if they were: i. The target of physical abuse ii. Exposed to violent behavior among adults they knew or lived with, and/or were exposed to weapons III. The Nature of Victimization A. Social Ecology of Victimization 1. Violent crimes are more likely to take place in open, public areas, or at a commercial location during the daytime or early evening 2. More serious crimes (eg, rape) usually occur after 6pm, while less serious crimes (eg, larceny) take place during the day B. The Victim’s Household 1. Black, western, and urban households are the most vulnerable to crime. Rural, white, and northeastern homes are least likely to contain crime victims. 2. People who own their home are less vulnerable than renters. 3. Recent declines in household victimization rates ay be due to an increase in smaller households in less populated areas C. Victim Characteristics 1. Gender: a. Except for rape and sexual assault, males are more likely to be victimized b. Females are more often victimized by someone they know, while males are more often victimized by strangers c. Gender differences in the victimization rate seem to be narrowing 2. Age: a. Age and victimization are tied to lifestyle b. Younger people face a greater victimization risk than older people c. Elderly are more susceptible to a narrow band of crimes such as frauds and scams d. With a growing segment of the population over the age of 65, elder abuse has increased 150% since 1986 3. Social status: a. Poor are more likely to suffer violent and property crimes b. Wealthy are at highest risk for personal theft crimes 4. Marital status: a. Never-married people are victimized more than married people b. Widows and widowers have the lowest victimization rate 5. Race and ethnicity: a. Blacks are more likely than whites to be violent crime victims b. Rate of black victimization has been declining and the racial gap seems to be narrowing 6. Repeat victimization: a. Prior victims have a significantly higher chance of future victimization than nonvictims b. Victims of chronic or repeat victimizations possess a personal characteristic that make them a magnet for predators i. Target vulnerability—physical or psychological weakness makes them easy targets ii. Target gratifiability—having attractive possessions that the offender wants