3.10: Victimization Views
- Page ID
- 47910
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Victimization Views
The role of victims during criminal activity is another aspect to be studied and theorized about. Typically we view victims as innocent members of society who have randomly been confronted with crime and victimization. We do not want to blame crime victims for what has happened to them, but if we can understand if crime is random or are there patterns in choosing a victim perhaps such knowledge could lead to better prevention efforts for future would-be victims.
One area of study has been on the role of the victim prior to the crime. As we know from our data sets most victims actually know the offender, they are not targeted by a stranger. By examining the interactions prior to the victimization we can see if certain variables are present which if the variable was not present, perhaps the victimization would not have occurred. Alcohol for instance is found to be present in many sexual assaults. The use of alcohol never excuses the offender’s behavior but perhaps it could be seen as a warning sign that people could try to avoid when protecting themselves. Other actions of the victim may place them at greater risk such as leaving the key in a running car in a high-crime rate neighborhood and walking away. Is this person a victim or is it possible that they wanted the car stolen to collect the insurance money? Do victims ever precipitate the crime?
Another area of study is where in the city the crime rates are highest and the most victims are found. It seems that often we are targeted by people we know that we thought we could trust. This nearness of victims and offender has led to the proximity hypothesis. Many criminal investigations begin by questioning people that the victim know or at least recognizes like friends, neighbors, and coworkers or ex-lovers.
Some theorists argue that the distinction between victim and offender as completely separate categories is rather false. Most people have been victimized by something in their life whether it be bullying, theft, or assault. At the same time, most individuals have broken the law on at least one occasion, so would that make people criminals or victims? It is sometimes found that people do not report a victimization because they were doing something criminal at the time. For instance, someone who is drinking underage and is assaulted at a party would be both criminal and victim supporting the equivalent group hypothesis. It should be pointed out that typically law enforcement would be more concerned about the serious crime, the assault, than the minor crime of minor in consumption. The rule is even more important in sexual assaults where victims are encouraged to report the crime which is far more serious than underage drinking, so the true criminal does not get away with their crime.