Victimology Flashcards
True or False: Victims do not have the same level of constitutional protections as the accused.
True
Define victim as it pertains or needs assistance.
Individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, psychological, or financial harm
Define Individual.
Human being
Define Criminal offense.
Offense against the person of an individual when physical or psychological harm occurs, or the property of an individual that is in excess of $1000.
What are some crimes that exclude a criminal offense?
- Bad checks
Crime destroys what two basic personal beliefs?
- A sense of trust
- A sense of control
True or False: The body’s response to trauma are involuntary?
True
What are the Short-term responses to trauma?
- Numbness
- Detachment
- Denial
- Sadness
- Anger
- Yelling
- Disorientation
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Helplessness/depression
- Fearful
- Flat affect
Victims respond to trauma in 4 ways. Name them.
- Emotional
- Physical
- Cognitive
- Behavioral
What are some emotional responses to trauma?
- Irritability
- Anger
- Grief
- Moodiness
- Anxiety
- Violent fantasies
What are some physical responses to trauma?
- Rapid breathing
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Digestion problems
- Muscle tension
- Stomachache
What are some cognitive responses to trauma?
- Confusion
- Worrying
- Amnesia
- Difficulty concentrating
- Repeating ideals and sentences
What are some behavioral responses to trauma?
- Withdrawn from others
- Sleeping problems
- Eating problems
- Changes in activities
- Decreased hygiene
- Wanting to be alone
What are some long term responses to trauma?
- Sleep problems
- Intrusive thoughts
- Dreams/nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Withdrawal/isolation
- PTSD
- Mood swings
- Sadness
- Shame
- Depression
- Intense fear
- Phobic reactions
- Considerations of suicide
- Drug and alcohol use
- Mental illness
- Heightened fear and distrust
- Guilt
Factors that contribute to victims’ trauma include:
- Age of victim/offender
- Prior victimization/Abuse
- Perception/type of physical injury
- Physical/mental health of victim
- Cognitive comprehension abilities
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Type, severity, and duration of crime
- Low self-esteem
- Guilt/shame
- Self-blame
- Long-lasting psychological damage
- Inability to function
- Tension within marriages and family relationships
Factors that contribute to the criminal justice system/community include:
- Could give a bad or good light of law enforcement
- Disparities in the justice system
- Anger at plea bargains
- Lack of information
- Feeling of no rights
- Indifference to community
Factors that contribute to support systems include:
- Reaction/responses from family, friends, and community
- Financial burdens
- Loss of income/wages
- Relationship to and safety from assailant
- Public support
What is minimizing any immediate threat, safeguarding evidence, and documenting all facets of the crime?
Scene Safety and Security
True or False: Officers have a duty to ensure the victims’ welfare?
True
True or False: If the officer is concerned that the victim might need medical assistance, it is best to call EMS.
True
True or False: It is important for an officer to be patient, compassionate, attentive, and show concern.
True
When victim questioning you should?
Follow with open-ended clarification questions, and avoid asking ‘Why.’
What are the 4 steps in closing the interview?
- Avoid asking specific questions about the length of time and distance
- Offer reassurance
- Answer any questions
- Provide follow-up questions and contact information
What is SCCADVSA?
South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
