crime and victimhood Flashcards
definition of being a victim of crime
someone who suffers physical/mental/psychological harm/ economic loss or impairment of rights.
what defines victimhood is whether oneself and/or others define someone as a victim
what is the typical victim stereotype like?
women, elderly, kids and youth, poor, physically vulnerable, ethnic minority, weak, living in city.
what is the statistical characteristics of a victim?
-16-24 year olds experience the most violence
- lower class are overrepresented as they are not victims of fraud (which is a v common crime)
- more dual heritage/mixed race victims (adult)
- men are 2x as likely to be a victim of anything than women, while women are more afraid
- men are more likely to experience crime from strangers/acquaintances while women are more likely to be victimised by people they know (eg domestic violence) and told to fear strangers, dark alleys etc.
- teens are most likely to be victims of violence, sex crime and theft
- 70% of homocides have male victims, men are more at risk of violent crime while women are more at risk of sex related crimes and trafficking
- child murders are mostly done by parents while they are taught ‘stranger danger’
- fluent english speakers are less likely.
how are victims now considered ‘consumers/customers’ of the CJS?
- victim surveys for quality control of the CJS
- victim support surveys
- their involvement in the process of justice (impact statements)
- 2002 national crime recording standard (ensures crime is recorded according to the law)
problems with the CSEW in terms of victimhood?
- not everyone labels themselves as a victim
- children and homeless are missed out
- some crimes are not asked about in the survey/underreported
Jackson Katz- the differentiation in the ways that men and women defend themselves from crime
men: “Nothing. I don’t think about it”
women: holding keys as a potential weapon, lock the windows even on hot nights, make sure i see my drink being poured, own a big dog, carry pepper spray, vary my route home from work, watch what i wear etc.
Critical victimology (macro approach- marxist/feminist)
- the powerless are the most likely to be victimised and this is less likely to be recognised by the state (Bloody Sunday Massacre, techniques of neutralisation)
- the powerful can deny victimhood status (clumsy workers! Tombs and Whyte)
- structural factors play a part in explaining why people are more likely to br victims (eg poverty and patriarchy)
- victim status is created for the poor and women
- global power structures create victims in poorer places and they don’t often get justice (drone attacks eg Turkey -> Syria)
they look at the role of the state and its agencies
1. social construction of victimhood
2. broader scale and those unaware
3. victim blaming critiques (positivist methods) eg murder of Stephen Lawrence who was assumed to be involved with gangs
positivist victimology
- Tierney- victim proneness
- Hans Von Hentig (1948)- likelihood: named factors such as young/immature, female, mentally ill, immigrants, minorities and marginalised people, ‘dull normals’, depressed, lonesome/heartbroken, tormentors, blocked opportunities
- Wolfgang- 26% involved in victim triggering events/ brought upon themselves out of 588 murders. victim precipitation
What are the effects of victimisation?
- Hoyle (2012)- victims experience 12 negative reactions like sleeplessness, PTSD, fear and shock
- Secondary victimisation (Walkate 2004)- the idea that on top of the original victimisation, victims can be victimised by the CJS
- fear of victimisation- irrational fear eg not going out in fear of being attacked and not trusting the wider population
- indirect victims of crime such as family
- hate crimes create waves of fear in communities
