Victimology Flashcards
British Crime Survey
Most likely victim of crime, assault, violent attacks - males
Most likely victim of domestic abuse, stalking, sexual assault - females
Young people more at risk
People in poorest areas more likely
Ethnic minorities at greater risk than whites
Hidden victims - people embarrassed, offences against young (only adults questioned), offences not viewed as criminal (marital rape), crime without victims (age offences)
Different victims treated differently - w/c young people taken less seriously, women persistently abused - colluding in own abuse
Support systems for victims schemes
Positivist view
Criminal are born - biological factors
People contribute to own victimology - walking home alone in dark
Explain patterns in victimisation - young people more likely to be victims are more likely to get drunk
A03 - victim blaming
Shaming women who have been abused/raped
Critical view
Some groups are structurally more at risk - women and poor
Positivist would argue sleeping on street is putting yourself at risk - critical would consider structural factors that make someone homeless
A03 -
Statistics show men are more likely to be victims of crime
Rich are also at risk of crime as they attract people who want to financially benefit
Positivist victimology
“Victim precipitation”
Hoyle - crime surveys can:
Identify victims who have’t been reported to police
In depth local studies about victims
Creates data on victim experiences of crime
Age - men between 16-24 Sex - men most likely expect rape and DV Routine activities - people who drink and go out at night most likely to be victim Ethnicity - ethnic minorities Location - poorer working class areas
Liberal victimologists
Interested in all victims of crime, regardless of their social characteristics.
Term ‘secondary victimisation’ - describes negative attitudes someone such as a rape victim might receive at hands of police or a judge, after suffering the ‘primary victimisation’ of the offence itself
Currently the British crime survey focuses on street crime and ignores crime by the rich and powerful.
Try to find out who the victims of corporate/white collar crimes are as that gets ignored.
Ideal victim -
Christie
Stereotype of victim: blameless of incident, going about their business, didn’t know the offender, was weaker than the offender, not controversial, victim of a one-off incident perpetrated by an individual.
A03 - not representative of who actual is most likely victim.
Hidden victims
People who don’t realise/report they are victims
Young people underrepresented - have to consent to be interviewed
Marital rape
People unaware they are victim of crime eg fraud, environmental crime, state crime
Victimless crime - under-age offences, drug taking
Crimes against companies and government - shop-lifting, tax evasion
Attitude to young people
Police often shown poor attitude if young people are victims especially rape.
Viewed as using for it - revealing clothes, drunk, out late at night.
In 2009 less than 10% of rape cases ended up in court.
Person’s characteristics and credibility would have a defining feature over whether seen as guilty or not.
Radical/critical victimology
Look at massive scale victims of crime eg human rights abuse.
Interested in the harm done to innocent by the criminal justice system itself, such as excessive stop and searches, wrongful arrests and false imprisonment.
