Hectic teacher test victimology Flashcards
How are victims seen in recent years?
Consumers of the CJS.
How is the CJS judged?
By its ability to meet the needs of it victims through the use of victim surveys and victim support services.
What is now allowed since 2013?
Victims of ASB and low level crime could have their own say on out of court punishment by selecting from a list.
20002 National crime recording standard?
Adopted by all forces in the England and Wales and gave priority to the victims of recollection of crime rather than the police interpretation of evidence.
UN definition of victim?
Those who have suffered harm including, mental, physical or emotional suffering, economic loss and impairment of their basic rights through acts or omissions that violate the law of the state.
What does inverse victimisation law mean?
Those that have the least power, most deprived and the least material possessions are most likely to be victims of crime and are also most likely to be the ones committing the crimes.
Traditional view of crime victims?
Weak
Innocent
Blameless
Female
Elderly
Statistical view of crime victims
Male
19-28
Ethnic minority
Patterns of victimisation
Class
Age
Gender
Ethicity
Class
W/C and underclass people are more likely to be a victim of crime although middle class are more likely to fear being a victim of crime.
This is partly due to the areas in which lower working class live.
Age
Young people are more at risk of being victims of crime. Infants under the age of 1, are most at risk of murder, teenagers are more vulnerable to violence, sex crimes and theft. Whereas the elderly are more at risk of abuse however the general trend of victimisation decreases with age.
Gender
Men are more at risk of being victims of crime especially violent crimes - 70% of homicides are male however women are more likely to be victims of sex related crimes, domestic violence and people trafficking. However this maybe due to the interpretation of laws surrounding rape and sex crimes.
Ethnicity
Ethnic minorities are most at risk of being victims of crime especially those of mixed ethnicity, even when discounting hate or racially motivated crimes.
The Home Office estimates there are around 106,000 racially motivated crimes each year which equates to 300 incidents a day.
What does the British Crime survey say if you have been a victim of crime once?
You are likely to be one again -repeat victimisation.
How many people are victims of crime?
Around 4% of the population are victims of 44% of crimes.
Impact of victimisation - Hoyle
There a range of possible effects of victimisation apart from physical harm of financial loss including anger, anxiety, depression, withdrawal, panic attacks, shock, PTSD, disrupted sleep, poor health, feeling powerlessness and fear of further victimisation.
Impact of victimisation - Walklate
Primary victimisation occurs when the crime takes place but many often feel further victimisation through the CJS - secondary victimisation. This is particularly the case in sexual crimes where the victims who are put on trial for their capability in the crime against them.
Impact of victimisation - Fear of crime
Many who have been victims of crime become hyperaware and fear being a victim again. This can lead to restriction of movement and hypervigilance. 3/4 domestic violence incidents, 1/2 of vandalism and 1/3 of burglaries are experienced by those who have been victims before. This can affect the whole community as well as individuals.
Explanation of crime - positivist victimology
Tierney - identifying characteristics of victims which are different to non-victim:
- victim proneness: characteristics which make people more vulnerable to being a victim.
- victim precipitation: victims are actively involved or to blame for their victimisation.
Hans Von Heting - 13 characteristics which make someone more likely to be a victim of crime.
Explanations of victimisation - positivist victimology evaluation
- Victim blaming.
- Downplays the role of the law and CJS.
- \doesn’t recognise there are situations where people are completely unaware of their victimisation or unwittingly become a victim.
Explanations of victimisation - Critical victimology
Mawby and Walklate - structural powerlessness leads to women and the poor being more likely to be a victim of crime due to poverty and patriarchy.
Labelling - The state is able to decide who is a victim and who isn’t.
Tombs and Whyte - Safety crimes are passed off as being the fault of the victim. Thus hiding the extent of victimisation and its causes of hierarchy of victimisation showing the powerlessness as more likely to be denied victim label.
Explanations of victimisation - critical victimology evaluation
- Disregards the role of the victim in bringing victimisation on themselves through their choices.
- Highlights the role of power in determining victim status.
