Victimology Flashcards

1
Q

Define victimology

A

Study of victims

Attempts to ID whether some people = more likely to be Vs + why

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2
Q

Define victims

A

= those who have suffered harm through acts/ commissions that violate the laws of the state

Harm includes: mental, physical, emotional, economic loss, impairment of basic rights

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3
Q

What has the study of victimology led to?

A

Rapid growth of victim surveys

- shine critical light on OCS based on police recorded crime, uncovers ‘dark figures’ of crime

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4
Q

What is the name of the biggest victim survey in the UK?

A

Crime Survey for England + Wales

formerly known as British Crime Survey

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5
Q

Give 4 ways in which the CJS is now more victim-centred

A
  1. Growing emphasis on restorative justice (give V chance to confront offender, seek apology/ remorse)
  2. New policy introduced (2002) police must now give priority to Vs account, not policed who viewed evidence
  3. 2013 Home Office: Vs of low-level/ anti-scoail crimes can pick from list of out-of-Ct punishments they think the offender should be given
  4. V = viewed increasingly as ‘customers’ of CJS, success = now judged on extent its met needs of V (past sole focus = on how well it dealt with offender) e.g. V support service
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6
Q

What are the 2 perspective of victimology?

A
  1. Positivist victimology

2. Critical victimology

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7
Q

What are the 5 impacts of crime on the victims?

A
  1. Physical/ emotional impact (disrupted sleep, difficulties in social functioning)
  2. Creation of ‘indirect Vs (others might also suffer e.g friends/ family)
  3. Fear of victimisation (makes people disproportionately scared of being Vs)
  4. 2ndary victimisation (might suffer further victimisation at hands of CJS, W in rape cases)
  5. Creation of ‘waves of harm’ (radiate out to affect others)
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8
Q

Describe the concept of 2ndary victimisation

A

Idea that individuals may suffer further victimisation at hands of CJS
In addition to impact of crime itself
e.g. rape Vs often feel they’re being put on trial

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9
Q

How can crime create ‘waves of harm’?

A

These ‘message’ crimes aimed at intimidating whole communities (not just primary V) may radiate out to affect others
e.g. Lee Rigby’s murder

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10
Q

What 3 features did Miers (1989) ID about the positivist victimology approach?

A
  1. Focuses on interpersonal crimes of violence
  2. Aims to ID factors that produce patterns in victimisation (V proneness/ precipitation)
  3. Aims to ID Vs who have contributed to own victimisation
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11
Q

Describe the concept of victim proneness

A

Characteristics of V that make them different from + more vulnerable than non-victims

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12
Q

Describe the concept of victim precipitation

A

Behaviours which make the V to blame for their own victimisation

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13
Q

What type of theories is the critical victimology perspective based on?

A

Conflict theories such as Marxism/ feminism

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14
Q

What do critical victimologists look at?

A

How wider social issues produce victimisation (including CJS)
Believe that structural factors (patriarchy/ poverty) place powerless groups at greater risk of victimisation

Therefore critical of positivist victimologists for failing ti take into account these structures

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15
Q

What are the 2 reasons for victimisation for critical victimologists?

A
  1. Social deprivation: weakest/ most deprived citizens who = most likely Vs
  2. Lack of protection from CJS (e.g. ethnic minorities) + social inequalities e.g patriarchy means men = socialised into sense they = superior
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16
Q

What do critical victimologists argue that the Tate has the power to do?

A

Apply/ deny the label of ‘victim’
‘victim’ = social construct
Through the CJS, the state applies the label of V to some BUT withholds it from others
e.g. some cases of domestic abuse

17
Q

What type of victimologist is Hans Von Hentig?

What did his 1948 study ID?

A

Positivist victimologist
ID that: females, elderly, mentally ill = more prone to being Vs + implied that the Vs in some sense ‘invite’ victimisation due the type of person they are

18
Q

What type of victimologist are Tombs + Whyte (2007)?

What do they argue about the CJS?

A

Critical victimologists
Argue CJS has tendency to ‘fail to label’ certain crimes as crimes
Hides crimes of powerful
Denies the powerless Vs of any redress
In hierarchy of victimisation, powerless = most likely to be Vs BUT least likely to be acknowledged by state as Vs

19
Q

What type of victimologist is Wolgang?

What did he discover in his study on homicides?

A

Positivist victimologist
Study of homicides in Philadelphia
Found that 26% involved ‘victim precipitation’
Vs triggered the events leading to the homicide (e.g. being 1st to use violence)

20
Q

What type of victimologists were Malby + Walklate (1994)?
What do they argue about victimisation?
Who argues with them?

A
Critical victimologists (also feminists)
Victimisation = form of structural powerlessness

Christie agrees, claiming that the stereotypical ‘ideal V’ in S = weak, innocent + blameless

21
Q

What campaign could be used to suggest that positivist victimology approach exists in our S?
Describe how this is

A

‘This is not an invitation to rape me’ campaign carried out by Rape Crisis Scotland
Launched on 15th October 2008, focused on tackling women-blaming attitudes to rape

27% of people said that W = to blame if she was wearing revealing clothing

22
Q

On average how many people are victims of crime each year?

A

1 in 4

23
Q

Describe the concept of repeat victimisation

A

If you have been a V once then you have an increased chance of being one again

24
Q

Who are the most likely victims of crime in terms of socail class?

A

‘Hard pressed’
Poorest section of wc
Those who = unemployed, long-term sick, low-income families in areas oh high level deprivation

25
Q

What did the 2014/15 CSEW show about the % of victims living in the poorest areas vs the wealthiest areas?

A

20% of people living in the poorest areas are Vs of crime each year
Compared to the 13% of those living in the wealthiest areas

26
Q

What is the ‘inverse victimisation law’?

A

That the most deprived + who have least valuable material possessions = the most likely V of crime

Additionally, those who steal from the poor are usually also poop people

27
Q

There are certain types of crimes that women are more likely to be a victim of
Give 6 examples of these

A
  1. Domestic violence (1 in 4)
  2. Sexual violence
  3. Stalking
  4. Harassment
  5. People trafficking
  6. Honour crimes (in ethnic minorities)
28
Q

Who is more likely to be a victim of violent crimes, males or females?

A

CSEW shows W have more fear of being a V

BUT its actually M (aged 16-24) who have twice the risk of being Vs of violent crimes, than W

29
Q

What % of women are killed each year by their current/ former partner?

A

80%

out of 150

30
Q

What % of domestic violence incidents are actually reported to the police?
What % of these result in a conviction?

A

40%

5% of these result in a conviction

31
Q

Why is Walklate critical of the CJS in terms of crimes agains women?

A

Many rape cases aren’t reported to the police; female Vs feel like they’re the ones being put on trial, not the male suspects
- Further criticism of the low conviction rate (6%)

32
Q

How many rape victims actually report the crime, according to Walklate?
Why is this?

A

1/10

Because in rape trials, seems that female V, not male suspects who are being put on trial

33
Q

Who does Wilson argue are the most likely Vs of violent crimes, in terms of age?
Where does supportive evidence come from?

A

Young people

Supportive evidence: 2007/8 CSEW, found likelihood of being a V of crime DECREASES with age

16-24 year olds = 9x as likely to be Vs of crime than those aged 75+

Lifestyle of young gives them more opportunities to commit crime + expose them to greater risk of being Vs

34
Q

What did the 2014/15 CSEW show about ethics minority groups?

A

They’re at greater risk of being Vs of crimes in general + racially motivated crimes than white people
e.g. black people = 4x more likely to be Vs of homicide than white people

35
Q

Who are more likely to be worried about crimes, ethnic minorities or ethnic majorities?

A

Ethnic minorities

36
Q

How do ethnic minorities generally feel in relation to the police?

A

Under-protected BUT over- controlled