Criminology: Chapter 3 Victims And Victimization

Front 1

Victimologists

Back 1

People who study the victim's role in criminal transactions.

Front 2

Victimization

Back 2

While the crime is still fresh in their minds, victims may find that the police interrogation following the crime is handled callously, with innuendos or insinuations that they were somehow at fault. Victims have difficulty learning what is going on in the case; property is often kept for a long time as evidence and may never be returned. Some rape victims report that the treatment they receive from legal, medical, and mental health services is so destructive that they cannot help but feel "re-raped".

Front 3

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Back 3

Psychological reaction to a highly stressful event; symptoms may include depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and recurring nightmares.

Front 4

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Back 4

An excessive preoccupation with certain thoughts and compulsive performance of certain behaviors.

Front 5

Cycle of Violence

Back 5

The idea that victims of crime, especially childhood abuse, are more likely to commit crimes themselves.

Front 6

Elder Abuse

Back 6

A disturbing form of domestic violence by children and other relatives with whom elderly people live.

Front 7

Chronic Victimization

Back 7

Those who have been crime victims maintain a significantly higher chance of future victimization than people who have remained non victims. Most repeat victimizations occur soon after a previous crime has occurred, suggesting that repeat victims share some personal characteristic that makes them a magnet for predators.

Front 8

Victim Precipitation Theory

Back 8

The idea that the victims behavior was the spark that ignited the subsequent offense, as when the victim abused the offender verbally or physically.

Front 9

Active Precipitation

Back 9

The view that the source of many criminal incidents is the aggressive or provocative behavior of victims.

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Passive Precipitation

Back 10

The view that some people become victims because of personal and social characteristics that make them attractive targets for predatory criminals.

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Lifestyle Theory

Back 11

People may become crime victims because their lifestyle increases their exposure to criminal offenders.

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Deviant Place Theory

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People become victims because the reside in socially disorganized, high crime areas where they have the greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal offenders.

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Routine Activities Theory

Back 13

The view that the volume and distribution of predatory crime are closely related to the interaction of suitable targets, motivated offenders, and capable guardians.

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Suitable Targets

Back 14

According to routine activities theory, a target for crime that is relatively valuable, early transportable, and not capably guarded.

Front 15

Capable Guardians

Back 15

Effective deterrents to crime, such as police or watchful neighbors.

Front 16

Motivated Offenders

Back 16

The potential offenders in a population. according to rational choice theory, crime rates will vary according to the number of motivated offenders.

Front 17

Date Rape

Back 17

Forcible sex during a courting relationship.

Front 18

Victim-Witness Assistance Programs

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Government programs that help crime victims and witnesses; may include compensation, court services, and/or crisis intervention.

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Victim Compensation

Back 19

The victim ordinarily receives compensation from the state to pay for damages associated with the crime. rarely are two compensation schemes alike, however, and many state programs suffer from lack of both adequate funding and proper organization within the criminal justice system. Compensation may be made for medical bills, loss of wages, loss of future earnings, and counseling. In the case of death, the victim's survivors can receive burial expenses and aid for loss of support.

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Crisis Intervention

Back 20

Emergency counseling for crime victims.

Front 21

Restitution Agreements

Back 21

Conditions of probation in which the offenders repay society or the victims of crime for the trouble the offenders caused. Monetary restitution involves a direct payment to the victim as a form of compensation. community service restitution may be used in victimless crimes and involves work in the community in lieu of more severe criminal penalties.

Front 22

Target Hardening

Back 22

Making one's home or business crime proof through the use of locks, bars, alarms, and other devices.