C&D- VICTIM OF CRIME Flashcards
What is Nils Christie’s perspective on the concept of the victim?
Christie argues that the concept of the victim is socially constructed by the media, the public, and the criminal justice system, often portraying the ideal victim as weak, innocent, and blameless.
How does the United Nations define victims of crime?
The UN defines victims as individuals who have suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss, or impairment of their basic rights.
What does repeat victimisation refer to, and which crimes is it commonly associated with?
Repeat victimisation refers to an individual being a victim of the same crime multiple times, commonly associated with crimes such as domestic abuse.
What is victimology?
Victimology is the study of victims of crime, focusing on their experiences, the impact of crimes on them, and the societal responses to victimisation.
When was the first British Crime Survey conducted, and what is its purpose?
The first British Crime Survey was conducted in 1983 by the Home Office to gather data on individuals’ experiences of crime over the past year.
What did the 2007 British Crime Survey reveal about crime victimisation?
The 2007 survey indicated that 24% of the population had experienced crime against themselves or their household in the previous year.
What are the three features of positivist victimology according to Miers?
Miers identifies three features: discovering patterns in victimisation (victim proneness), identifying victims who have contributed to their own victimisation, and focusing on interpersonal crimes of violence.
What did Von Hentig propose about victim proneness?
Von Hentig suggested that certain social characteristics, such as being female or elderly, increase the likelihood of being a victim of crime.
What were the findings of Marvin Wolfgang’s study on homicides in Philadelphia?
Wolfgang’s study of nearly 600 homicides found that 26% were victim-precipitated, meaning the victim initiated the violence leading to their own death.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of positivist victimology?
Strengths include highlighting the importance of the victim-offender relationship.
Weaknesses involve ignoring wider structural factors, potentially blaming victims, and overlooking crimes where victims are unaware of their victimisation.
What is critical victimology, and what does it focus on?
Critical victimology, based on conflict theories like Marxism and Feminism, focuses on structural factors such as poverty and patriarchy that increase victimisation risk, and the state’s power to label or deny victim status.
How does critical victimology view the state’s role in victimisation?
It argues that the state can deny the label of ‘victim’ to certain individuals, concealing the true extent and causes of victimisation, often benefiting the powerful.
What is the relationship between social class and victimisation?
Lower social classes are more likely to experience victimisation, with higher crime rates often found in areas of unemployment and deprivation.
How does age affect the risk of victimisation?
Younger individuals are at higher risk, with teenagers more likely to experience assault, sexual harassment, theft, and abuse, while infants are most at risk of homicide.
What is the correlation between ethnicity and victimisation?
Ethnic minorities face a higher risk of general and racially motivated crimes, with people of mixed ethnic backgrounds being the most likely victims.
