class7: Violence and Victimization

“real” victim

a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action

the ideal victim

Being a victim is not a thing, an objective phenomenon. It will not be the same to all people in situations externally described as being the “same.” It has to do with the participants' definition of the situation.

social construction

Something that exists because people behave as if it exists, so much that rules (formal and informal) come to exist in association with it

by ideal victim, i have instead in mind a person or a category of individuals who, when hit by a crime, more readily are given the

complete and legitimate status of being a victim

domestic

• white/lighter skinned (class)

• visible injuries

• position of weakness

• femininity

violence

• domestic violence

• women positioned clearly as victims

• men unclearly place in position of victim

cvc: Applicants denied Crime Victim Compensation in Florida by race

black applicants denied

• 60yrs pass and still denied

cvc is the

crime victim compensation: govt program at the state level designed to provide compensation to victims after crime

cvc is used

for medical bills, moving costs, funeral costs, lost wages as a result of crime, property damages, etc.

needs for cvc

1. legit crime

2. need lots of receipts

3. retroactive

in general

• rate of violence in homes women higher

• rate of violence in homicide men higher

• black men and boys most at risk for homicide victimization

• status of victimhood establish politically