UNIT 1.pptx victimology basis and terminology

AparnaAjayan8 494 views 95 slides Apr 02, 2024
Slide 1
Slide 1 of 95
Slide 1
1
Slide 2
2
Slide 3
3
Slide 4
4
Slide 5
5
Slide 6
6
Slide 7
7
Slide 8
8
Slide 9
9
Slide 10
10
Slide 11
11
Slide 12
12
Slide 13
13
Slide 14
14
Slide 15
15
Slide 16
16
Slide 17
17
Slide 18
18
Slide 19
19
Slide 20
20
Slide 21
21
Slide 22
22
Slide 23
23
Slide 24
24
Slide 25
25
Slide 26
26
Slide 27
27
Slide 28
28
Slide 29
29
Slide 30
30
Slide 31
31
Slide 32
32
Slide 33
33
Slide 34
34
Slide 35
35
Slide 36
36
Slide 37
37
Slide 38
38
Slide 39
39
Slide 40
40
Slide 41
41
Slide 42
42
Slide 43
43
Slide 44
44
Slide 45
45
Slide 46
46
Slide 47
47
Slide 48
48
Slide 49
49
Slide 50
50
Slide 51
51
Slide 52
52
Slide 53
53
Slide 54
54
Slide 55
55
Slide 56
56
Slide 57
57
Slide 58
58
Slide 59
59
Slide 60
60
Slide 61
61
Slide 62
62
Slide 63
63
Slide 64
64
Slide 65
65
Slide 66
66
Slide 67
67
Slide 68
68
Slide 69
69
Slide 70
70
Slide 71
71
Slide 72
72
Slide 73
73
Slide 74
74
Slide 75
75
Slide 76
76
Slide 77
77
Slide 78
78
Slide 79
79
Slide 80
80
Slide 81
81
Slide 82
82
Slide 83
83
Slide 84
84
Slide 85
85
Slide 86
86
Slide 87
87
Slide 88
88
Slide 89
89
Slide 90
90
Slide 91
91
Slide 92
92
Slide 93
93
Slide 94
94
Slide 95
95

About This Presentation

victimology


Slide Content

UNIT 1 VICTIMOLOGY BASICS

Victimology: Basic Concepts Victim: The concept of a “victim” can be traced back to ancient societies. It was connected to the notion of sacrifice. In the original meaning of the term, a victim was a person or an animal put to death during a religious ceremony in order to appease some supernatural power or deity. Over the centuries, the word has picked up additional meanings. Now it commonly refers to individuals who suffer injuries, losses, or hardships for any reason. People can become victims of accidents, natural disasters, diseases, or social problems such as warfare, discrimination, political witch hunts, and other injustices.

Victimization: Victimization is an asymmetrical interpersonal relationship that is abusive, painful, destructive, parasitical, and unfair. While a crime is in progress, offenders temporarily force their victims to play roles (almost as if following a script) that mimic the dynamics between predator and prey, winner and loser, victor and vanquished and even master and slave. Many types of victimization have been outlawed over the centuries—specific oppressive and exploitative acts, like raping, robbing, and swindling. But not all types of hurtful relationships and deceitful practices are forbidden by law. It is permissible to overcharge a customer for an item that can be purchased for less elsewhere; or to underpay a worker who could receive higher wages for the same tasks at another place of employment; or impose exorbitant interest rates and hidden fees on borrowers who take out mortgages and use credit cards; or to deny food and shelter to the hungry and the homeless who cannot pay the required amount.

Victimology: The word “victim” has its roots in many ancient languages that covered a great distance from northwestern Europe to the southern tip of Asia and yet had a similar linguistic pattern: victima in Latin; víh,wéoh , wíg in Old European; wíh , wíhi in Old High German; vé in Old Norse; weihs in Gothic; and, vinak ti in Sanskrit (Webster’s 1971). Victimology as an academic term contains two elements: • One is the Latin word “ Victima ” which translates into “victim”. • The other is the Greek word “logos” which means a system of knowledge, the direction of something abstract, the direction of teaching, science, and a discipline

Victimology is the scientific study of the physical, emotional, and financial harm people suffer because of illegal activities. Victimologists first and foremost investigate the victims’ plight: the impact of the injuries and losses inflicted by offenders on the people they target. In addition, victimologists carry out research into the public’s political, social, and economic reactions to the plight of victims. Victimologists also study how victims are handled by officials and agencies within the criminal justice system, especially interactions with police officers, detective’s prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, probation officers, and members of parole boards.

Victimologists want to know whether and to what degree crime victims experience physical wounds, economic hardships, or emotional turmoil. One aim, of course, is to devise ways to help them recover. In the aftermath of the incident, are they frightened, terrorized, depressed, traumatized, infuriated, or embittered? Also, victimologists want to find out how effectively the injured parties are being assisted, served, accommodated, rehabilitated, and educated to avoid further trouble. Victimologists are equally curious to determine the extent to which their plight is being ignored, neglected, belittled, manipulated, and commercially or politically exploited.

Some individuals who sustain terrible injuries and devastating losses might be memorialized, honored, and even idolized, while others might be mocked, discredited, defamed, demeaned, socially stigmatized, and even condemned for bringing about their own misfortunes. Why is this so? Victimologists also want to examine why some injured parties find their ordeals life transforming. Some become deeply alienated and withdraw from social relationships. They may become burdened by bouts of depression, sleep disorders, panic attacks, and stress-related illnesses. Their healing process may require overcoming feelings of helplessness, frustration, and self-blame.

Others might react to their fear and fury by seeking out fellow sufferers, building alliances, and discovering ways to exercise their “agency”—to assess their options and make wise decisions, take advantage of opportunities, regain control of their lives, rebuild their self-confidence, and restore a sense of trust and security. Why do people experience such a wide range of responses and what personality and social factors determine how a person reacts?

II. KEY CONCEPTS IN VICTIMOLOGY A. Concepts 1. “Victim” has it roots in the early religious notions of suffering, sacrifice and death. This concept of “victim” was well known in the ancient civilizations, especially in Babylonia, Palestine, Greece, and Rome. In each of these civilizations the law mandated that the victim should be recognized as a person who deserved to be made whole again by the offender. 2. “Crime victim” is a person who has been physically, financially or emotionally injured and/or had their property taken or damaged by someone committing a crime. 3. “ Victimogenesis ” refers to the origin or cause of a victimization; the constellation of variables which caused a victimization to occur.

4. “Victim Precipitation” a victimization where the victim causes, in part or totally, their own victimization. 5. “Vulnerability” is a physical, psychological, social, material or financial condition whereby a person or an object has a weakness which could render them a victim if another person or persons would recognize these weaknesses and take advantage of them. 6. “General Victim” is a person who has been physically, financially or emotionally injured and/or had their property taken or damaged by someone, an event, an organization or a natural phenomenon.

7. “Victimization” refers to an event where persons, communities and institutions are damaged or injured in a significant way. Those persons who are impacted by persons or events suffer a violation of rights or significant disruption of their well being. 8. “Victimology” is an academic scientific discipline which studies data that describes phenomena and causal relationships related to victimizations. This includes events leading to the victimization, the victim’s experience, its aftermath and the actions taken by society in response to these victimizations. Therefore, victimology includes the study of the precursors, vulnerabilities, events, impacts, recoveries, and responses by people, organizations and cultures related to victimizations.

9. “Abuse of Power” is the violation of a national or international standard in the use of organized powerful forces such that persons are injured physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, or in their rights, as a direct and intentional result of the misapplication of these forces. 10. “Victim Assistance, Support or Services” are those activities which are applied in response to victimizations with the intention of relieving suffering and facilitating recovery. This includes offering information, assessments, individual interventions, case advocacy, system advocacy, public policy and programme development.

11. “Victim Recovery” is the resumption of the same or better level of functionality as was enjoyed prior to victimization. Persons who have been victimized vary in their level of mental health and wellbeing prior to their victimization. Consequently, victimization affects each person in a different way and causes differing degrees of injury or trauma. In their recovery it is necessary for victims to first try to regain their previous level of functioning plus learn from their misfortune and hopefully exceed their previous level of functionality. To be recovered suggests that a person has at least regained their prior level of well-being and at best, has exceeded it. This state may be measured by identifying their previous mental condition and determining if they have at least regained that prior status using the criteria of: trust in others, autonomy of self, individual initiative, competency in daily activities, self-identity, interpersonal intimacy, control over personal situations, successful relationships, safety in daily activities, acknowledgment of memory, trauma symptoms have become manageable, self esteem is restored, resourcefulness is achieved, and there is an improved ability to ward off potential threats.

12. “Child Abuse” is the intentional application of sexual, physical, emotional or psychological injury to a child to include neglect at the hands of her or his parents or care-provider within the confines of their family or place of care. 13. “Victim Offender Mediation” (VOM) is a formal process for face-to-face meetings in the presence of a trained mediator between a victim of a crime and his/her offender who committed that crime. This is also called victim-offender dialogue, victim-offender conferencing, victim-offender reconciliation, or restorative justice. Often the victim and the offender are joined by their respective families and community members or other persons related to the crime event. In these meetings, the offender and the victim talk to each other about the victimization, the effects it had on their lives, and their feelings about it. The aim is to create a mutually agreeable plan to repair any damage or injury that occurred as a result of the crime in the hopes of permanently eliminating the conflict that caused the crime in the first place.

14. “Restorative Justice” is a systematic formal legal response to crime victimization that emphasizes healing the injuries that resulted from the crime and affected the victims, offenders and communities. This process is a departure from the traditional retributive form of dealing with criminals and victims which traditionally have generally perpetuated the conflict which resulted in the original crime. 15. “Victim Trauma” includes emotional and physical experiences that produce pain and injuries. Emotional injury is a normal response to an extremely abnormal event. It results from the pairing of a painful or frightening emotional experience with a specific memory which emerge and have a long lasting effect on the life of a person. The more direct the exposure to the traumatic event, the higher the risk for emotional harm and prolonged effects.

16. “Crisis Intervention” is the provision of emergency psychological care to traumatized victims so as to help them return to an adaptive level of functioning and to prevent or mitigate the negative impact of psychological and emotional trauma. 17. “Compensation” is a formal administrative procedure provided by law which provides only money to victims for “out of pocket” real expenses directly resulting from the victimization to be paid by the state after the victim is found to qualify according to specific criteria determined by the respective state or federal law.

18. “Restitution” is a formal judicial procedure used by a judge after guilt is determined as part of a sentence which can provide money and/or services to the victim for damages or suffering which resulted from the victimization to be paid or performed by the offender. 19. “Victim Survey” is a periodic data collection and analysis process conducted usually by a government entity within the general population to study information about crime victims regardless whether they reported their victimization to the police or not. It typically uses a face-to-face or telephone interview (or sent questionnaire) and covers 19. “Victim Survey” is a periodic data collection and analysis process conducted usually by a government entity within the general population to study information about crime victims regardless whether they reported their victimization to the police or not. It typically uses a face-to-face or telephone interview (or sent questionnaire) and covers

20. “Victim Rights” are privileges and procedures required by written law which guarantee victims specific considerations and treatment by the criminal justice system, the government and the community at large.

Historical step of victimology Critical date of Victimology: Critical Dates in Victimology 1924 Edwin Sutherland includes a chapter on victims in his criminology textbook. 1937 Beniamin Mendelsohn publishes his writings on the rapist and his victim. 1941 Hans von Hentig publishes article on victim and criminal interactions. 1947 Beniamin Mendelsohn coins the term “victimology” in a French journal. 1948 Hans von Hentig publishes his book The Criminal and His Victim. 1949 Frederic Wertham first used the word “victimology” in a book Show of Violence. • 1957 Margery Fry proposes victim compensation in the London Times.

1958 Marvin Wolfgang studies homicide victims; uses the term “victim precipitation”. 1963 New Zealand enacts the first Criminal Compensation Act. 1965 California is the first state in the USA to start Victim Compensation. 1966 Japan enacts Criminal Indemnity Law. 1966 USA starts to survey crime victims not reported to the police 1967 Canada creates a Criminal Compensation Injuries Act as does Cuba and Switzerland.

1968 Stephan Schafer writes the first victimology textbook The Victim and His Criminal. 1972 The first three victim assistance programmes are created in St. Louis, Missouri, San Francisco,California and in Washington, D. C. 1973 the first international symposium on victimology is held in Jerusalem, Israel. 1974 the first police-based victim advocate project is started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. 1975 The first “Victim Rights’ Week” is organized by the Philadelphia District Attorney, Pennsylvania, USA. 1976 John Dussich launches the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) in Fresno,California , USA.

1976 Emilio Viano launches the first scholarly journal devoted to victimology. 1976 James Rowland creates the first Victim Impact Statement in Fresno, California, USA. 1979 The World Society of Victimology is founded in Munster, Germany. 1980 Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) is founded by Candi Lightner after one of her twin daughters was killed by a drunk driver who was a repeat offender. 1981 President Ronald Reagan proclaims the first national Victims’ Rights Week in April. 1982 the first Victim Impact Panel established by MADD to educate drunk drivers about how their victims suffered, started in Rutland, Massachusetts, USA. 1984 The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) establishes the national Crime Victims Fund from federal crime fines to pay for state victim compensation and services.

1985 The United Nations unanimously adopts the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. 1987 The US Department of Justice opens the National Victims Resource Centre in Rockville, Maryland. 1988 The first “Indian Nations: Justice for Victims of Crime” conference is held by the Office for Victims of Crime in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA.

• 1990 The European Forum for Victim Services was founded by all the national organizations in Europe working for victims of crime in consultative status with the Council of Europe and the UN. 1999 The United Nations and the US Office for Victims of Crime publish the Guide for Policymakers on the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power and the Handbook on Justice for Victims: On the Use and Application of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. 2002 On 11 April, 66 the Rome Statute was ratified & went into force on 1 July at which time the International Criminal Court became effective and it included the creation of a Victim and Witness Unit.

2003 On October 2nd the Tokiwa International Victimology Institute, in Mito Japan opened its doors to promote victim rights, to conduct seminars, courses, publish an international journal, and host annual symposia and lectures and research about victimology. 2004 The World Society of Victimology at its annual Executive Committee meeting in Orlando, Florida adopts a dramatic new strategic plan to commit itself to the ideals and promises of the UN Declaration . 2005 Japan puts the UN Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power into their national legislation by adopting a new fundamental law for crime victims. To ensure that the principles would be initiated, the Prime Minister established a cabinet level committee. The new law includes services for victims, restitution from the offender, information about criminal justice and a right to formally participate in the criminal justice process.

National and International concern for victims of crime Victims’ rights in India The rights of victim of crime are defined in Criminal Procedure Code 1973 section 2( wa ). The rights of victims of crime are elaborately defined in Indian Criminal Justice System. The right of the victim of crime can access the justice to have the availability of relief to the victim by various judicial or non judicial institutions in India. When the victim approaches the police station it is the primary duty of the inspector to accept the complaint and register the complaint. If the station house officer is refused to register the complaint, then the victim can complain this matter to the superintendent of police. The victim can also demand the FIR copy from the police station at free of cost from the police station practice but not effectively serving the poor victims of crime.

When the criminal justice system is implemented in proper manner according to the rule of law, democracy, development and human rights by the government reveals the success. The protection of victims of crime is the one of the main objective of the criminal justice system. It is the primary responsibility to implement the Cr.P.C with good motive and objectives. Though the law and order was well defined the punishment to the culprit of rape with severe punishments, the law response to the needs of the victims of rape is in shifting the burden of proof. The law fails to address the needs of victims of rape to be treated with dignity and in providing the protection from intimidation. This has been announced by the Delhi Domestic Working Women’s Forum.

Victims’ rights UNO The general Assembly of the United Nations Organisation declared the basic principles of Justice for Victims of Crime in its 96th plenary on November 29th, 1985. The predominant components of the rights of victims of crime are access to justice and fair treatment, establishment of restitution for the victims of crime, fair and reasonable compensation to the victims of crime and Legal assistance to the victims of crime until they are justified.

The international norms for the human rights is developed a mandate to support the victims of torture and related crimes. This mandate is made compulsory for all nations to follow to safeguard the rights of victims of crime by the International Law Commission. The international norms have been headed by the topic ‘Crimes against humanity’ and they have focused on the rights of victims of crime in May 2017. The United Nations of Organization has established the International Criminal Courts and Tribunals to implement the statutes and regulations and array of measures to positively engage victims in the criminal justice progress. These International criminal courts are facilitating the direct participation to deliver the reparation to the victims of crime.

The International Law Commission has well designed and developed a special Rapporteur on the crimes against humanity. This regulations are mandatory for all criminal justice systems of the countries in the world. Article 31(1) of the legal procedures, their rights and role in the proceedings. The victims should be informed with the progress of the investigation and the prosecution. In addition to that it has made declarations to recognize the victims of road crashes should be treated as the victims of crime.

The governments of respective countries should provide the information guides on the legal procedures. The governments should also provide the compensation to the victims of the road crashes to provide immediate medical aid and support to help them cope. The governments of all nations should reserve a fund to safeguard the victims. The fund also can be collected from the offenders and violators of the road rules. The General Assembly of United Nations resolution 217/A article 8 and resolution 30/3452 has stated in the basic principles with the description of rights for the victims of crime, abuse of power and terrorism.

This regulations have clearly mentioned the scope, timing and progress of the criminal proceedings against the terrorism. According to this article the victims should be provided with the proper assistance throughout the judicial proceedings. It also insisted the local judiciary system to avoid unnecessary delay in the disposition of cases and the execution of orders or granting compensations and awards to the victims.

Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power Adopted by General Assembly resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985 A. Victims of crime 1. "Victims" means persons who, individually or collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that are in violation of criminal laws operative within Member States, including those laws proscribing criminal abuse of power. 2. A person may be considered a victim, under this Declaration, regardless of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended, prosecuted or convicted and regardless of the familial relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. The term "victim" also includes, where appropriate, the immediate family or dependants of the direct victim and persons who have suffered harm in intervening to assist victims in distress or to prevent victimization.

3. The provisions contained herein shall be applicable to all, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour , sex, age, language, religion, nationality, political or other opinion, cultural beliefs or practices, property, birth or family status, ethnic or social origin, and disability.

Access to justice and fair treatment 4. Victims should be treated with compassion and respect for their dignity. They are entitled to access to the mechanisms of justice and to prompt redress, as provided for by national legislation, for the harm that they have suffered. 5. Judicial and administrative mechanisms should be established and strengthened where necessary to enable victims to obtain redress through formal or informal procedures that are expeditious, fair, inexpensive and accessible. Victims should be informed of their rights in seeking redress through such mechanisms

6. The responsiveness of judicial and administrative processes to the needs of victims should be facilitated by: ( a ) Informing victims of their role and the scope, timing and progress of the proceedings and of the disposition of their cases, especially where serious crimes are involved and where they have requested such information; ( b ) Allowing the views and concerns of victims to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of the proceedings where their personal interests are affected, without prejudice to the accused and consistent with the relevant national criminal justice system; ( c ) Providing proper assistance to victims throughout the legal process;

( d ) Taking measures to minimize inconvenience to victims, protect their privacy, when necessary, and ensure their safety, as well as that of their families and witnesses on their behalf, from intimidation and retaliation; ( e ) Avoiding unnecessary delay in the disposition of cases and the execution of orders or decrees granting awards to victims. 7. Informal mechanisms for the resolution of disputes, including mediation, arbitration and customary justice or indigenous practices, should be utilized where appropriate to facilitate conciliation and redress for victims.

Restitution 8. Offenders or third parties responsible for their behaviour should, where appropriate, make fair restitution to victims, their families or dependants . Such restitution should include the return of property or payment for the harm or loss suffered, reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result of the victimization, the provision of services and the restoration of rights. 9. Governments should review their practices, regulations and laws to consider restitution as an available sentencing option in criminal cases, in addition to other criminal sanctions. 10. In cases of substantial harm to the environment, restitution, if ordered, should include, as far as possible, restoration of the environment, reconstruction of the infrastructure, replacement of community facilities and reimbursement of the expenses of relocation, whenever such harm results in the dislocation of a community.

11. Where public officials or other agents acting in an official or quasi-official capacity have violated national criminal laws, the victims should receive restitution from the State whose officials or agents were responsible for the harm inflicted. In cases where the Government under whose authority the victimizing act or omission occurred is no longer in existence, the State or Government successor in title should provide restitution to the victims. Compensation 12. When compensation is not fully available from the offender or other sources, States should endeavour to provide financial compensation to:

( a ) Victims who have sustained significant bodily injury or impairment of physical or mental health as a result of serious crimes; ( b ) The family, in particular dependants of persons who have died or become physically or mentally incapacitated as a result of such victimization. 13. The establishment, strengthening and expansion of national funds for compensation to victims should be encouraged. Where appropriate, other funds may also be established for this purpose, including in those cases where the State of which the victim is a national is not in a position to compensate the victim for the harm.

Assistance 14. Victims should receive the necessary material, medical, psychological and social assistance through governmental, voluntary, community-based and indigenous means. 15. Victims should be informed of the availability of health and social services and other relevant assistance and be readily afforded access to them. 16. Police, justice, health, social service and other personnel concerned should receive training to sensitize them to the needs of victims, and guidelines to ensure proper and prompt aid. 17. In providing services and assistance to victims, attention should be given to those who have special needs because of the nature of the harm inflicted or because of factors such as those mentioned in paragraph 3 above.

B. Victims of abuse of power 18. "Victims" means persons who, individually or collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that do not yet constitute violations of national criminal laws but of internationally recognized norms relating to human rights. 19. States should consider incorporating into the national law norms proscribing abuses of power and providing remedies to victims of such abuses. In particular, such remedies should include restitution and/or compensation, and necessary material, medical, psychological and social assistance and support.

20. States should consider negotiating multilateral international treaties relating to victims, as defined in paragraph 18. 21. States should periodically review existing legislation and practices to ensure their responsiveness to changing circumstances, should enact and enforce, if necessary, legislation proscribing acts that constitute serious abuses of political or economic power, as well as promoting policies and mechanisms for the prevention of such acts, and should develop and make readily available appropriate rights and remedies for victims of such acts.

Handbook of Justice for Victims1998 Victims of crime have often been forgotten or faced ‘secondary victimisation ’ by the criminal justice system. Should victims of crime be involved in decision making relating to their case? Is this empowering, or will it cause the victim stress and lead to unfair sentencing? The 1985 United Nations (UN) Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power recommends measures to be taken on behalf of victims of crime. This UN Centre for International Crime Prevention Handbook on Justice for Victims covers the use and application of the Declaration. One effective way to address the needs of crime victims is to establish programmes that provide many types of support.

The Handbook is designed as a tool for implementing victim service programmes and for developing victim-sensitive policies in criminal justice agencies. Few nations have implemented the declaration fully, and support services and counselling for victims are widespread in only a minority of countries. Victimisation has physical, financial, psychological and social impacts. Key findings are that: Financial impacts of victimisation may involve replacing property and possessions, installing security measures, health costs, participating in the justice system, counselling, time off work and funeral costs. Psychological impacts may involve post-traumatic stress disorder.

Restorative justice is becoming increasingly popular, and can have a preventative effect. However, there is concern that some restorative approaches may not give sufficient attention to the victim. The dignity and healing of victims depends on the respect and assistance extended to them by the professionals and others who come into contact with them. The first intervention between the police and the victim is critical to how the victim copes and recovers.

All victim assistance providers and policy makers should understand the impact of victimisation in order to promote the understanding of the need for assistance. Government and community agencies should establish victim service programmes dedicated to providing services to victims. Victim assistance programmes should assist victims to deal with emotional traumas, participate in the criminal justice process, obtain reparation and cope with problems associated with victimisation . Many suggestions are given and key recommendations are that: There needs to be a comprehensive strategy that coordinates efforts at all levels. Regional and subregional strategies in a broader international context are useful. Victim support services should provide emotional support, direct assistance and information. An assessment should be done to determine which services are lacking and what the service priorities are.

All victims should have access to the justice system and support throughout the judicial process and the justice system should be designed to minimise obstacles that they may face. Crisis intervention, counselling, advocacy, support during investigation and prosecution are all important services for victims. Support should also be provided for the victim assistance professional. Professionals, volunteers and others who come into contact with victims should be trained and sensitised about victim issues, crisis response and violence prevention.

Guide for Policy Makers, 1998 Victims of crime are often forgotten as more attention is paid to ensuring due process for the defendant. The United Nations (UN) Centre for International Crime Prevention has designed a guide for policymakers who are responsible for providing victims of crime with assistance and access to justice. The guide sets out lines of work that can be pursued by countries implementing the 1985 Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. Some governments have made significant progress implementing the declaration, but others have only begun to make their justice and support systems more accessible to victims. Victimisation studies have shown that urban dwellers in African and Latin American megacities are the least satisfied with the response of their police force to crimes. Studies have also shown that the business community carries a large part of the economic burden of crime.

Effective programmes will reduce the cost of crime and will prevent victims’ alienation from the criminal justice system and the community. Many examples of programmes and measures are given and key ones include: Extensive training of the police so that the victim is treated as a human being first and not just a source of evidence, and training regarding rights and referrals for victims. A review of basic medical, psychological and social services to ensure they are responsive to the needs of victims. Special programmes for more vulnerable victims, such as those who have experienced sexual assault, battered women, child victims and victims of ‘hate crimes’. Victim service programmes that may include: crisis intervention, counselling, advocacy, support during crime investigation, prosecution and after the case, training, violence prevention and public education.

State compensation to victims, paid where restitution is not fully available from the offender or other sources. Developing guidelines for judicial and administrative personnel where the inconvenience and personal interests of the victim is considered, especially in terms of police questioning and timing of hearings. It is the responsibility of governments to develop support programmes to challenge victimisation in society. Efforts and resources devoted to programmes should provide significant short- and long- term benefits and bring together the government, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and the community at large. Many recommendations are made and key ones are that:

Policies to implement the declaration should be based on a comprehensive strategy, and if there are no policies a high-level committee should be established to carry out a needs assessment. It is essential to strengthen the existing administrative structures and voluntary organisations dealing with victim issues in countries where victim policies have been put in place. The state should provide for a wide dissemination of the declaration in local languages, promote public initiatives and cooperate with intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations . The state should develop and ratify international and regional conventions aimed at preventing victimisation . Planning economic and social development or planning peacekeeping should include mechanisms designed to identify victimisation risks and help forestall them. Training programmes should be promoted. Legislative change may be necessary to ensure consistent and equitable services and a periodic review of legislation should occur.

The analysis reveals that serious crimes, especially violent events, are relatively rare events and that accidental injuries at home and work are more likely than a victimization by a violent crime.  The NCVS and the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) differ in their findings regarding trends; NCVS indicates that overall crime declined between 1973 and 1992, while the UCR revealed large percentage increases in many crime categories for the same time period.  In addition, the risk of victimization varies across population groups, time, and space. Young persons, males, black persons, and low-income groups are at greater risk of both personal and household victimization than are other groups, perhaps because of their typical daily behavior.

Homicide rates have increased since the mid-1980's; homicide is now the leading cause of death for young black males. The victim-offender relationship and the consequences of victimization vary considerably by the type of crime and somewhat by the characteristics of the victim. Finally, although the direct economic costs of crime for individual victims are generally not large, the indirect costs for the criminal justice system and communities as a whole are enormous. The indirect costs of fear of crime are believed to be enormous, even though they are difficult to quantify. 

Role of victims in Criminal Occurrence 3. Types of Victims The perpetrator's profile involves his evaluation of the victim. Studying the victim's differentiating abilities is called as Victimolgy . Victimolgy is basically founding a point of that individual's threat of becoming a victim as a purpose of his or her individual, specialized, or social life. Possessing closeawareness of the victim's existence and habits delivers concepts as why this specificvictim was selected at a set time and place. This information divides victims into following three categories:  Low-risk victims tend to remain close to work and home. They incline not to common places they do not know properly. They lock their entrances at nighttime. They grip stable works and have numerous friends.  Medium-risk victims may work close to home and lock their doors at night. However, these individuals are indiscriminate and at times venture out at night by themselves

High-risk victims most of the time living in high-risk conditions. Prostitutes, particularly persons who walk on the lanes, noticeably fall into this group. They typically work during the night hours, interact with strangers regularly, willing climb into cars with strangers, and therefore are easy targets. Other high-risk activities include drug use, sexually energetic lifestyles, night time jobs, and congregations with other people who possess criminal tendencies. Perpetrators choose their particular victims based on their individual fantasies and their victim's susceptibility. Some victims are just grabbed as victims of opportunity. Low-risk victims are less prone to place their selves in vulnerablepositions than high-risk victims. Though anyone one can merely be on the incorrect location at the wrong time. Other victims are swift as they suitable for the role in the criminal's imagination. Committers may devote a little of time, possibly days or weeks, planning for the perfect victim-the individual who most possibly matches his fantasy. Other hypothetically vulnerable objectives are unnoticed as they are not reasonably right

Psychological autopsy is an important form of victim profiling. A psychological autopsy is done when the method of the victim's death is not indistinct. Criminal investigators are uncertain whether the victim's expiry was unintentional, suicidal, or homicidal. To aid, make this resolve, the forensic psychiatrist digs into the victim's school, work, medical, and army histories. The forensic psychiatrist interviews family, friends, and associates. He/she evaluates autopsy, police, and witness reports. The objective is to regulate whether the victim was the type of person who was living in a high-stress situation to take his or her own life or living a lifestyle that made him or her easy prey for a killer

Different criminologists have given various forms of victims on the basis of different criteria.  Mendelsohn (quoted by Krishna and Singh, 1982: 48) has given six types of victims according to the degree of their contribution guilt in crime. These are: ( i ) Entirely blameless sufferers (e.g. small babies/offspring who are raped or killed or abducted devoid of their comprehending what is being done to them); (ii) Victims with negligible guilt (like pregnant women who goes to quacks for abortion and pay for it with their survives); (iii) Victims more guilty than the offenders (such as those who provoke others to commit crime)

(iv) The most embarrassed kinds of victims who commit crimes contrary to others and get injured or destroyed themselves (e.g., a rapist who gets murdered by his victim who response in self-protection); and (v) Faking (or imagining) victims (such as paranoids, over excited and confused persons) who give evidence in the courts in order to obtain sentence against an accused person

 Walter Reckless (1961) has talked of two types of victims. ( i ) Reporting and (ii) Non-reporting victims. The latter is one who is unwilling to report because he/she fears reprisals or social consequences of doing so; the former is one who does not bother for the consequences of recording his discrimination but is relatively interested in receivingthe offender punished or receiving some relief for his suffering.

 Fattah (1967) has described five types of victims. i . Non-participating, ii. Latent, iii. Provocative, iv. Participating, and v. False victims.  Wolfgang (1967) has mentioned five types of victimisation . ( i ) Primary victimisation , including personalised or single victims, (ii) Secondary victimisation , in this the victim is an impersonal target of the offender (e.g., a robber in a department store, a person roaming without a ticket on a roadways bus, etc.); (iii) Tertiary victimisation , which affects the public or the administration of society

(iv) Mutual victimisation , which concerns those victims who themselves are offenders in a given mutually consensual act (e.g., adultery); and (v) No victimisation , which is an action of insignificant impact where there is no immediately recognisable victim.

Von Hentig (The Criminal and His Victim, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1948) has given four types of victims. ( i ) Victims whose wound might be the price of a greater gain, e.g., in abortion; (ii) Victims who carry about the unfavourable result partly by their own concurrent effort; e.g., prostitutes; (iii) Victims who provoke or instigate the offence, e.g., by challenging the opponent to kill him if he can and in an emotional state of mind, the opponent accepts the challenge and attacks; (iv) Victims who desire the injury.

 Hentig has further classified the attitudes of victims as: ( i ) Lethargic attitude; (ii) Submissive or conniving attitude; (iii) Cooperative or contributory attitude, and (iv) Provocative or investigative attitude

 The U.S. Department of Justice, Workplace for Sufferers of Crime identified the following types of Victim/victimization: Adult Molested as Child Adult of group age of 18 or older that is sexually abused as a child. Adult Sexual Assault Sexual offense comprises rape, incest, fondling, exhibitionism, or pornography of an adult age 18 or older

Aggravated Assault Deliberately causing chronic wound by a deadly weapon, unlawful intended struggling, frightening to cause chronic injury with a dangerous weapon. Arson Any deliberate or malevolent burning or effort to burn, with or without intending to deceive, a dwelling, house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, or personal property of another. Assault Illegal outbreak by one individual on another with or without a weapon, that imposes, or efforts or threatens to wreak physical injury

Child Any individual who is below the age of 18 or as otherwise defined by state law. Child Physical Abuse Due to severe beatings, burns, strangulation, or human bites Non-accidental injury caused to a child or other adult by his/her parent. Child Sexual Abuse These are sexual offenses by parents against a child or other adult. Domestic Violence Violent acts involving a current of former spouse or domestic partne

DUI/DWI Crash Accident involving one or more motor vehicles in which at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) or was legally intoxicated (DWI) at the time of the crash Elder Abuse Abuse perpetrated done by a caretaker on an elderly individual who depends on others for support and assistance. Fraud Deliberate deception perpetrated for unlawful or unfair gain. Gang Violence Criminal acts committed by a group of three or more individuals who regularly engage in criminal activity and identify themselves with a common name or sign.

Human Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking in which a commercial or act is induced by force fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, personage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Identity Theft A crime in which an imposter gets the information about the personal information like social security or driver's license numbers in order to impersonate. Other Violent Crimes Other crimes not listed, not including property crimes (which is the taking of money or property without force or threat of force).

Robbery Taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat, and/or threat of force or violence. Sexual Offense Forcible rape, attempted rape, statutory rape, sexual harassment, prostitution, or other unlawful sexual contact and other unlawful behavior intended to result in sexual gratification or profit from sexual activity.

Stalking Any unwanted contact between two people that directly or indirectly communicate a or place the victim in fear. White-Collar Crime Nonviolent crime for financial gain committed by means of deception by persons with Special technical and professional knowledge of business or government.

4. Victim Protection If you're a victim of crime or a witness, you shouldn't be afraid to go the police or give evidence in court. There are laws and services to protect you. Find out what they are and how they can help you. If you're afraid to come forward If you've been a victim of crime or witnessed one, you may be feeling upset or worried. You may have doubts about coming forward to the police or giving evidence in court. No law says you have to report a crime to the police or give evidence. But remember, by coming forward you could bring a criminal to justice. You could also stop the same thing happening to others. You don't have to report the crime to contact Victim Support, a charity that helps victims and witnesses. You can talk things through with them and discuss your options with someone confidentially.

The police will keep your details private If you give a statement about a crime to the police, they will write down your address on the back of it. The defendant or their solicitor will only acquire a replica of the front, so they won't see where you live. Also, victims and witnesses are not generally inquired to provide their address out loud in court. When the police examine a crime, they can give certain facts to local reporters, radio and TV stations. They do this to find out if there are witnesses who could help them solve the crime. However if you are the victim, they'll normally ask you before they do this. Also, if you have been sexually attacked, they won't pass on any details that could identify you, like your name or address.

Protecting you from threats and harassment It's contrary to the law to intimidate (threaten or bully) a witness or anyone else helping the police. If you feel in danger in some way, at any time, speak to your witness caution office or the police officer in charge of that case. If you're truly threatened, call 999. If the pressure proceeds in court, inform your solicitor or a court official who will report it to the police. You can get further assistance if the lawbreaker had been caught, laid in prison, free on bail or sentenced. The criminal court can form a command to halt them approaching near you, threatening you or frightening you again. If they move on, they might suffer another crime and even be put into jail.

The Police and the Crown Prosecution Service can defend your individuality throughout the investigation and the initial days of a trial. In certain cases, they can even protect your identity during the trial itself. Witness relocation In special cases, if the threat to you is very serious then it may be possible to relocate you (move house) to another area where you feel safer. This is organized by the police. Protection if you have to go to court There are a several of methods by which court can protect you when you have to give evidence. The law indicates that at any place it is thinkable; you must be given a distinct waiting zone and a chair in court away from the offender's family. If there is no separate area, the court will make other arrangements to keep you safe.

You can get extra help in court if you're under 17 or afraid to give evidence. Also, if you possess a learning or physical incapacity or you are a victim of a sexual crime. In such cases, you can enquire the police to apply for special measures. This can include screens to stop you from having to see the defendant, or someone to help you understand what you're being asked.

Protection when a criminal is released from prison In serious cases, the criminal justice system continues to protect victims of crime, even after the offender is released from prison. If they have been put in prison for more than a year for a sexual or violent offence, you'll be told when they're about to be set free. You will be allotted (given) a victim link officer at the Probation Service. In severe cases you can ask this liaison officer for special terms when the offender is out. For example, this could be a command (legal order) to make certain they halt away from you.

5. Science of Victimolgy Many persons consider that Victimolgy is an objectively new conception of theories. The discipline essentially eras back to around 1880. Though to be reasonable Victimolgy turn out to be comprehensive known of in Europe not long after World War II. This specific discipline goal is employed in the direction of understanding the association between criminals and victims.

By reviewing victims facts experts increase evidence against the criminals which supports in outlining or identification of the criminal. Trends and statistics give information such as social status (the kind of area someone lives in) work and working conditions which often plays a significant role in why someone has become a victim; the information also helps in our understanding of victims, and the criminal. Local authorities rely on statistics to work towards implementing action that will prevent or reduce diverse kinds of crime. (McGuire, 2010) (McGuire, 2007, 243-246)

Profilers are certain that it is significant to collect details/history on the victim. The victim’s source, physical look, traits and features has appreciated data which can be estimated at and after departure of a crime scene. In the occurrence that a number of victims have been establish above a sequence of months or year’s facts such as this well may explain why the victims had become targets. Victims will likely have been chosen because of their surroundings, their psychical appearance and capabilities and their social standing. (Homeless adults and offspring, prostitutes, refugee workers, homosexuals, unmarried females nevertheless of age) They will every so often be incapable to protect themselves and incapable of calling for help because to their surrounding or their sensibility.

VICTIM OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP VICTIM OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP Victim-offender relationship is one of the most important notions in victimology. Mendelsohn calls the victim and his offender the "penal couple." For Schafer (1976:157) victim-offender relationships may contain the origin of victimisation . "The marital status of the offender and that of the victim - or the fact that one person is the spouse or a friend or an acquaintance or just a stranger (third person) - may contain the seeds of crime. Married persons of both sexes are more often victims, than persons in any other marital status. It has also been observed that legally divorced individuals are less often victims of violent crimes than those who are in other relationships with the criminal" (Schafer, 1976:157-158) .

It is found by the President's Commission on Crime that primary group relationships seems more important in crime against person, especially in homicide cases. It was also found that 80 per cent of the murder and aggravated assault victims belonged to primary group relationships. In England little over 40 per cent of female murder are suspected to be committed by huSbands . In .25 per cent of female murder cases, the suspect was either a relative or a lover (Schafer, 1976: 156-161) .

Wolfgang (1958:213) states that when a man is killed by a woman "he was most likely to be killed by his wife" and it is also found that a woman was more likely than a man to kill her mate. According to Schafer, "female criminals commit violent crimes against their spouse three times more often than do males, and nine times more often against their children" (Schafer, 1976: 158) . Let us now analyse the different dimensions of victim offender relationship.

1. Nature of Victim-Offender Relationship: According to Hentig (1948) the relationship between the victimiser and the victim are very intricate. The victim, one who suffers and the victimiser , one who harms, appear in victimisation in a close interpersonal relationship and the victim plays a determinant role with the victimiser . For Cho (1974: 96), "the victim and victimiser should be understood in terms of victimisation incidence and relationship. Both "affinity" and "propinquity" factors should be considered for the differentials in participation, commitment and involvement in victimisation . Though not intended for creating an impression that the victim and victimiser are "guilty by association," we are suggesting that the interaction and relationship should be explored rather than assumed, and that guilt should be understood objectively, rather than assumed to be a hallmark of the victimiser ."

So victimisation occurs in interpersonal interaction between the victim and the victimiser and the situation. So the issues are: Is victimity an exclusive characteristic of the victimiser ? Is it a depending quality or a developed personal trait? Is it dispatchable genetically or culturally? Is victimity additive, substractive , transferable or coextensive with anti or non- victimity ? Is victim a dynamic participant in victimisation ? and Does victimity emerge from assigned criminal status and role expectations?

. Grades of Victim-Offender Relationship: There are different grades of victim-offender relationship. The victim has no prior knowledge of the crime. He dislikes very much being made a victim. He informs the police about the victimisation . The victim has no prior knowledge of the crime and he disapproves being made a victim, but refrains from calling the police. The victim has some prior awareness of the possible crime.

The first of these might be called victim non-acceptance. The second and third might be termed as victim-acquiescence, unwilling, with or without previous knowledge. According to Mack (1974: 127) these three envelop a number of social situations of which the major ones are: The victim himself is a criminal. The victim is a near criminal. The victim has no open criminal associations. The victim 'belongs to an enthnic minority group. Hence, victimisation is a problem of relationship and responsibility. Who is responsible for what and to what extent?

A Shared Responsibility: The victimizer and the victim act on each other directly by sharing a common place, or indirectly by symbolic relationship. Hence, the victim can be viewed as a dependent variable by examining the effects of being victimised or as an independent variable by examining the conditions which predispose certain kinds of persons to victimisation . For Hudson and Galway (1975:xii) "the central thrust of the study of victim-criminal relationships i's that to some variable extent the officially labelled 'victim' of criminal act may directly share in responsibility for -the victimisation ." Therefore, the performance of the victimiser should be seen as a shared responsibility. From this point of view, who may take on the role of victim or victimiser in particular situations may have more to do with sheer chance than with anything else (Wolfgang, 1958:265).

Impact of Victimization– Physical and financial impact. The physical and financial impact of victimization At the time of a crime, or upon discovering that a crime has occurred, victims are likely to experience a number of physical reactions to the event. These may include an increase in the adrenalin in the body, increased heart rate, hyperventilation, shaking, tears, numbness, a feeling of being frozen or experiencing events in slow motion, dryness of the mouth, enhancement of particular senses, such as smell, and a "fight or flight" response. It is common for people to lose control over their bowel movements. Some of these physical reactions may not occur until after the danger has passed. They may recur at a later stage when the memory of the crime returns. After the crime, victims may suffer a range of physical effects, including insomnia, appetite disturbance, lethargy, headaches, muscle tension, nausea and decreased libido. Such reactions may persist for some time after the crime has occurred. Physical injuries resulting from victimization may not always be immediately apparent. This may be particularly true in cases of domestic violence where the injuries occur on parts of the body that are normally clothed.

Facial injuries are by far the most frequent in other forms of assault. Victims may suffer a range of physical damage, including abrasions and bruises, broken nose, cheekbone or jawbone and damage to or loss of teeth. Other injuries will be associated with assaults involving knives or firearms. Physical injuries may be a permanent effect of crime and there is evidence that this has a negative effect on long-term psychological recovery, since the physical scars serve as a constant reminder of the crime. Cultural, gender and occupational factors may affect the individual's reaction to permanent scarring or disability, as will the reaction of others.

The financial impact of crime is less well documented. Victims may incur costs in the following ways: ·   Repairing property or replacing possessions, ·   Installing security measures, ·   Accessing health services, ·   Participating in the criminal justice process, for example, attending the trial, ·   Obtaining professional counselling to come to terms with the emotional impact, ·   Taking time off work or from other income-generating activities, ·   Funeral or burial expenses

In some cases, victims may feel a need to move, a process likely to entail financial costs. As a result of the crime, the value of property may decrease. In the long term, crime can adversely impact the victim's employment. The victim may find it impossible to return to work or their work performance may be adversely affected, resulting in demotion, loss of pay and possibly dismissal. This is particularly likely where the crime occurred at work, as it may be difficult for the victim to avoid people or situations that led to the initial victimization. The marital and other relationships of crime victims are also likely to be affected and this may have a significant effect on the family's financial position. Research shows that the shock waves from victimization touch not only the victim but also the victim's immediate family and relatives, neighbours and acquaintances. This holds true for the emotional as well as the financial consequences, and the effects can endure for years or even a lifetime. In the case of genocide, child abuse, exposure to violence and abuse of power, the effects can be passed on from one generation to the next. While this is to be expected in connection with offences such as murder, torture and rape, the crimes of assault, robbery and burglary can also leave lasting feelings of powerlessness, insecurity, anger and fear. Not only individuals but also communities and organizations can be victimized, leading to their deterioration over time as confidence ebbs, fear increases and the economic burden of victimization becomes insupportable.

The effects of victimization strike particularly hard at the poor, the powerless, the disabled and the socially isolated. Research shows that those already affected by prior victimization are particularly susceptible to subsequent victimization by the same or other forms of crime. These repeat victims are often found in many countries to reside in communities with high crime levels and are also a common phenomenon during times of war. As for the impact of abuse of power, during recent years armed conflict has claimed innumerable victims, largely among civilian populations, with women and children often the primary targets. Tribal warfare, ethnic strife and other fratricidal conflicts, mass rapes, kidnappings or expulsions, "ethnic cleansing", torture, arbitrary detention and killings have greatly added to the human toll. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that at the beginning of 1996 there were approximately 13.2 million refugees, 3.4 million returnees, 4.6 million internally displaced persons and 4.8 million victims of armed conflict worldwide.

The use of child soldiers (10 years of age or even younger) in some places, child bondage and new forms of slavery, the sale and sexual exploitation of children, also in connection with "sex tourism", and the kidnapping and murder of street children have further increased the scale of victimization. It is estimated by the United Nations Children's Fund that during this last decade some 1.5 million children have been killed in armed conflicts, another 4 million children have been disabled, maimed, blinded or brain-damaged, and many more have been psychologically traumatized. At least 5 million children have been uprooted from their communities; between 100 million and 200 million children are being used in exploitative forms of labour ; and many are living and working in the streets, where they have often been victims of unscrupulous operatives and vigilante killings. Their very status makes refugees and internally displaced persons easy prey for abuse and they are often subject to secondary victimization. This is the case, for example, with violence against migrant workers, 1  who may become victims of physical abuse and mental and sexual harassment by employers, intermediaries or the police, quite apart from being subjected to economic servitude. Refugees and migrants have also become targets of "hate crimes" and exploitative practice.
Tags