The Enter for Criminology in First Year Students

Presentation 1st Year Crim

1. welcome
to our
presentation
prepared by;
group 5 1i

2. VICTIMS AND
VICTIMAZATION CRIME
TYPOLOGY

3. The term “Victimology” is used to refer to a branch of
criminology which analyze the casual factors that affect
victimization. In the study of crimes and criminals, the focus of
the subject matter is centered often times, on the causes and/or
violations of laws and the nature of the criminal. Many had been
written about criminals but none of the victims. Recently, the
focus of the study on crimes and criminals had shifted into the
study of “victimization prevention” rather than “crime
prevention.
INTRODUCTION
The term “Victimology” is used to refer to a branch of
criminology which analyze the casual factors that affect
victimization. In the study of crimes and criminals, the focus of
the subject matter is centered often times, on the causes and/or
violations of laws and the nature of the criminal. Many had been
written about criminals but none of the victims. Recently, the
focus of the study on crimes and criminals had shifted into the
study of “victimization prevention” rather than “crime
prevention.

4. the term victimization
victim
victimize
- (transitive verb) treat unfairly; to make into a victim or cause somebody to
become a victim; to cause to suffer.
victimization
- somebody hurt or killed by somebody or something especially in a crime,
accident, or disaster.
-(noun) an undesirable consequence caused by some external forces (as in victims
of war, victims of terrorism, victims of natural calamities) or by some individual,
group, or organization (victims of rape, robbery, murder, or swindling).

5. the term victimization
victimology
- is a discipline/study which deals with nature, causes of victimization, as well as
the programs for aiding and preventing victimization.

victimologist
- is a social scientist who deals with the study of the causes of victimization
and the programs of preventing victimization areas of specialization.

6. Traditionally, criminology is focused on the individual who
perpetrated the crime, the criminal. However, starting in the
1940's, a new approach was introduced which gave an added
dimension to this field of study. This approach involves the
study of the victims of crimes and it is called victimology. In
the study of crimes, it is not only the criminals that should be
discussed because there is another important player that
completes the picture, and that is the victim.

7. BRIEF HISTORY OF VICTIMOLOGY
It was Benjamin Mendelsohn who coined the term "victimology" in the
1940's.
Mendelsohn was a lawyer from Bucharest, Romania who developed a
scientific method for studying the criminal act that utilized
biopsychosocial data on the criminal, the victim and the witnesses.
He distributed the manuscript among medicolegal experts in 1946
when he delivered one of the first formal speeches on the subject of
victimology in Romania (Burgess, 2010)

8. BRIEF HISTORY OF VICTIMOLOGY
Another pioneer in the field of victimology is Hans Von Hentig.
Others refer to him as the father of victimology, However, other
textbooks credit Mendelsohn.
Von Hentig was a German scholar who taught at a university in the
United States. He wrote an article called "The Criminal and His
Victim,” focusing on the interaction between criminals and his
victims, and published it in 1941.
He also developed his own victim typology consisting of 13
categories based on psychological, social and biological factors, in
contrast to Mendelsohn's categories based on guilt and responsibility
(Burgess, 2010).

9. BRIEF HISTORY OF VICTIMOLOGY
The first textbook written about victims was published in 1968 and was
authored by Stephen Schafer.
Schafer was a lawyer born in Budapest, Hungary who taught criminology
Polytechnic of Central London (now called University of Westminster)
He later also taught at the Florida State University and Northeastern
University, both in the United States of America, where he became a
professor in criminal justice. The book he wrote, entitled "Restitution to
Victims of Crime" was the first book ever written about victims. He also
wrote a book, entitled, "The Victim and His Criminal".

10. VICTIMOLOGY
According to Karmen (2010), victimology is the study
of victimization, including the relationship between
victims and offenders, the interactions between
victims and the criminal justice system - that is, the
police, the courts and the corrections officials and the
connections between victims and other societal
groups and institutions, such as the media, businesses
and social movements.It is also defined as the
scientific study of the physical, emotional and
financial harm people suffer because of illegal
activities (Karmen, 2010).
This definition focuses on the effects of crime on the
victims.

11. VICTIM
A victim is the person to whom the crime was
committed. He is also referred to as the complainant
or the offended party . Also, victims can either be
direct or primary victims, or indirect or secondary
victims (Karmen, 2010). A direct or primary victim is
the person who was actually harmed because of the
commission of the offense. Victims of rape, theft,
robbery, and physical injuries are some examples
direct or primary victims. Indirect or secondary
victims refer to the family or loved ones of the victim.
Such is the case in the crimes of murder or homicide.

12. VICTIM TYPOLOGY
Typology is a classification scheme that aids in the
understanding of what a group of people has in
common and how it differs from others (Karmen,
2010). Victim typology, then, refers to the
classification of victims based on the type of crimes
usually committed or are likely to be committed
against them based on their demographic profile, such
as gender, age, occupation, location of residence or
place of work and the like.

13. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
- A few of the traditional concepts in studying
victimology are victim-offender relationship,
victim facilitation, victim precipitation and
culpability (also called victim precipitation and
provocation), victim resistance, victim
vulnerability and victim blaming.

14. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
1) Victim-offender Relationship
- This refers to the relationship of the victim with the offender, and vice
versa. It could be that the victim personally knows the offender, may be
actually related to him by blood, or they may be co-workers, neighbours or
classmates, or even in a relationship with each other. This relationship could
be a factor as to why the offender victimized him.
For example, in cases where a man becomes a victim of violent crimes, the
offender is usually a stranger. On the other hand, females are more likely to
be victims of sexual offenses, and they are more likely to be victimized by
people they know, like relatives, friends, and even boyfriends (Siegel, 2004).

15. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
2) victim facilitation
- This happens in situations wherein victims unknowingly, carelessly,
negligently and inadvertently make it easier for the criminal to commit a
crime (Karmen, 2010). Because of carelessness or negligence on the part of
the victim, the offender is given the opportunity to actually commit the crime,
such as in cases of theft and robbery. It is called victim facilitation because
in effect, it was the victim who facilitated the commission of the crime,
meaning, it was the victim who made it possible for the offender to commit the
crime against him.

16. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
3) victim precipitation and culpability provocation
- In victim precipitation, the victim significantly contributed to his
victimization, while in culpability or provocation, the victim is considered to
be even more responsible for the crime than the offender himself (Karmen,
2010).
A good example of victim precipitation is in a case of robbery . when a person
boasts of having money, or shows off his valuables, such jewelry, expensive
gadgets and other similar items, then he puts himself in danger of becoming
robbed. Thus, he precipitated, or caused, his own victimization.

17. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
4) victim resistance
- Victim resistance, then, refers to the efforts of the victim to fight off or
repel the offender. Some victims are strong enough to fight back, such as
males with a good body build or who possess some
knowledge and skills in self-defense. In like manner, females are generally
considered physically weaker which makes them easy target of offenders.
Some people are also emotionally weaker and give in easily to the demands of
the offenders, while some people have a stronger willpower to resist.

18. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
5) victim vulnerability
- Victim vulnerability refers to the tendency of a person to become victimized
without any fault on his part. Such person can easily become a victim because of his
personal circumstances, such as age and state of mental health. Children are the best
examples of vulnerable persons. They become victims of such crimes as child
pornography, sexual abuse, human trafficking, child labor, drug-related offenses, and
other crimes that exploit children. Offenders are able to commit these crimes against
children because of their age and innocence. Obviously, it is not the fault of the
children that they are young and innocent.

19. TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY
6) victim blame
- It is very common to hear people blame the victims for the crime committed
agai nst him. Sometimes, even the victim blames himself. In some ways, this is
good because it shows that people are aware that crimes can be prevented if
we protect ourselves from them and that there are means to protect
ourselves from criminals, However, this can also be a negative thing because
when we start blaming the victim, then it is like we are removing the blame
from the offender. This can make offenders feel like it is your fault that they
victimized you.

20. VICTIM PATTERNS
The age, gender, marital status, educational
background, level of intellect, income, occupation,
lifestyle or habits, victim-offender relationships, and
ecology are some of the factors that affect
victimizations risks.
Results of various studies reveal that in terms of
gender, males are more likely to become vi ctims of
robbery and physical injuries. In terms of income or
economic status, the poor are most likely to become
victims of crimes because they live in areas that are
crime-prone.
It was also found out that unmarried or never been
married individuals are victimized more often than
married people.

21. VICTIM PATTERNS
It was also found out that unmarried or never been
married individuals are victimized more often than
married people.
Ecology refers to the location or place of commission
of the crime. According to statistics, victimization
occurs more in large, urban areas while victim rates are
lower in rural and suburban areas. Most crimes are
committed at night,and the most likely site is an
open,public area such asa street, park, parking area
and other similar places (Siegel, 2004)

22. THE NATURE OF VICTIMIZATION

Victim Characteristics
Social and demographic characteristics distinguish victims and nonvictims.
Among them are age, gender, social status, marital status, race, and residence.

Age
Gender
Victim data reveal that young people face a much greater victimization
risk than do older persons.
Except for the crimes of rape and sexual assault, males are more likely than
females to suffer violent crime. Men are twice as likely as women to
experience aggravated assault and robbery. Women, however, are six times
more likely than men to be victims of rape or sexual assault.

23. THE NATURE OF VICTIMIZATION
Social Status
People in the lowest income categories are much more likely to become crime
victims than those who are more affluent. Poor individuals are most likely the
victims of crime because they live in crime-prone areas, such as the slums and
urban areas. Although the poor are more likely to suffer violent crimes, the
wealthy are more likely to be targets of personal theft crimes, such as pocket-
picking and purse (bag) snatching.Marital Status
Divorced and never-married males and females are victimized more
often than married people. Widows and widowers have the lowest
victimization risk.

24. THE NATURE OF VICTIMIZATION
Residence
Urban residents are more likely than rural or suburban residents
to become victims of crime.

25. Who Fears Crime?

26. Who Fears Crime?
Surveys reveal some of the differences in the
public’s fear of crime. Among these differences are
the following:
Gender: Females are more fearful than males.
Race/Ethnicity Nonwhites are more fearful than
whites.
Age People 30 years old and older are slightly
more fearful than people less than 30 years old.
Religion: Jews are more fearful than
Protestants or Catholics.

27. Who Fears Crime?
Surveys reveal some of the differences in the
public’s fear of crime. Among these differences are
the following:
Region Easterners and Southerners are more
fearful than Westerners and Midwesterners.
Education: The higher the level of education of
a person, the lower the person’s fear of crime.
Income Fear of crime victimization declines with
increasing family income.
Community People living in urban areas are
more fearful than people living in rural
areas.

28. THEORIES OF VICTIMIZATION
For many years criminological theories focused on the
actions of the criminal offender; the role of the victim was
virtually ignored. In contrast, modem victimization theories
already acknowledge that the victim is not a passive target in
crime, but someone whose behavior can influence his or her
own fate.

29. THEORIES OF VICTIMIZATION
1. Victim Precipitation Theory
According to this view, some people may actually initiate the
confrontation that eventually leads to their injury or death. Victim
precipitation can be either active or passive.
Active precipitation
occurs when victims act provocatively, use threats or fighting words,
or even attack first.
Passive precipitation
on the other hand, occurs when the victim exhibits some personal
characteristics that unknowingly threaten or encourage the attacker.

30. THEORIES OF VICTIMIZATION
2. Lifestyle Theory
According to this theory, people may become crime victims because
their lifestyle increases their exposure to criminal offenders.
Victimization risk is increased by such behaviors as associating with
young men, going out in public places late at night, and living in an urban
area.
High-Risk Victim:
Victims in this group have a lifestyle that makes them a higher risk
for being a victim of a violent crime. The most obvious high-risk
victim is the prostitute. Prostitutes place themselves at risk every
single time they go to work.

31. THEORIES OF VICTIMIZATION
Moderate-Risk Victims
Victims that fall into this category are lower risk victims, but for
some reason we're in a situation that placed them; at a greater level
of risk. A person that is stranded on a dark, secluded highway due to
a flat tire and accepts a ride from a stranger and is then victimized,
would be a good example of this type of victim level risk.
Low-Risk Victims
The lifestyle of these individuals would normally not place them at
any degree of risk for becoming a victim of a violent crime. These
individuals stay out of trouble, do not have criminal peers, are aware
of their surroundings, and attempt to take precautions so as not to
be victimized.

32. THEORIES OF VICTIMIZATION
Moderate-Risk Victims
Victims that fall into this category are lower risk victims, but for
some reason we're in a situation that placed them; at a greater level
of risk. A person that is stranded on a dark, secluded highway due to
a flat tire and accepts a ride from a stranger and is then victimized,
would be a good example of this type of victim level risk.
Low-Risk Victims
The lifestyle of these individuals would normally not place them at
any degree of risk for becoming a victim of a violent crime. These
individuals stay out of trouble, do not have criminal peers, are aware
of their surroundings, and attempt to take precautions so as not to
be victimized.

33. CONCLUTION
Other effects of crime to victims include loss, suffering,
fear (fear for others), Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
(extreme preoccupation with certain thoughts and
compulsive performance of certain behaviors), and
antisocial behavior. Also, there is growing evidence that
people who are crime victims also seem more likely to
commit the crime themselves.

34. REFERENCES
Siegel, Larry J. (2012)
Criminology, 11 edition page 71-92
th
Chapter 8 of Module

35. thank you
prepared by;
group 5 1i
member;
BANZON, AMAYAH TRISH M.
ARTOCILLO, FLORIEMAY
BONALES, ROGIELYN M.
GABINETE, BENDEX JOULZ
REALINO, KEVIN
PLASENCIA, JIMZ