Criminology Final CH 3-6

Victimologists

Criminologists who focus their attention on crime victims

4 consequences/ costs associated with victimization

1. Victim costs

2. Criminal justice system costs

3. Crime career costs

4. Intangible costs

Vicarious Fear

Occurs when people who are not personally victimized become fearful when they observe or are exposed to violence on a routine basis

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A condition whose symptoms include depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior

Victimization and Crime

Have a link or joining together which can cause social problems, stress and anger, and revenge seeking

Why are schools a location of a lot of victimization?

They are populated by one of the most dangerous segments of society which are teenage males

Cycle of Violence

The idea that victims of crime, especially childhood abuse are more likely to commit crime themselves

Deviant Place Theory

View that people become victims because they reside in socially disorganized, high crime areas where they have the greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal offenders

Routine Activities Theory

View that the volume and distribution of predatory crime are closely related to:

1. The availability of suitable targets (homes or businesses)

2. The absence of capable guardians (friends, parents, relatives)

3. The presence of motivated offenders (unemployed/ unsupervised teenagers)

Victim Witness Assitance Programs

Government programs that help crime victims and witnesses and may include compensation, court services, and/or crisis intervention

Victim Compensation

In order to help victims survive their ordeal, state governments have set this up to help pay for damages associated with the crime

New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office

Established to help protect the rights of victims by providing funding for legal representation in court, which ensures that victims’ rights are respected in situations where the victim might be overwhelmed by unfamiliar legal requirements and procedures

Victim Advocates

Especially helpful when victims need to interact with the agencies of justice

Victim Impact Statements

Gives the victim the opportunity to tell his or her experiences and describe the ordeal

Victim’s Bill of Rights

Every state has in its code of laws guarantees the following:

• To be notified of proceedings and the status of the defendant

• To be present at criminal justice proceedings

• To make a statement at sentencing and to receive restitution from a convicted offender

• To be consulted before a case is dismissed or a plea agreement entered

• To a speedy trial to keep the victim contact information confidential