THIS STUDY IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A BASIC TEXT AND HANDBOOK FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS. DIRECT VICTIMS OF LEGALLY PROHIBITED ACTS ARE THE PRINCIPLE FOCUS OF THE STUDY, AN EFFORT TO DEAL WITH THE AREAS OF VICTIMIZATION THAT CAUSE THE MOST PUBLIC CONCERN. THE DYNAMICS OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE LAW, THE CRIMINAL, AND THE VICTIM ARE EXAMINED IN TERMS OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF EACH TO THE CHARACTER OF THE CRIME. CRIME PREVENTION, VICTIM ASSISTANCE, AND VICTIM INPUT ARE EXPLORED AS THE THREE PRINCIPLE AREAS AFFECTING THE VICTIM. ENTICEMENT, PROVOCATION, AND WEAKNESS ARE CITED AS OPERATIVE IN VICTIM-PRECIPITATED CRIMES. THE ASPECTS OF VICTIM PROFILE DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSED ARE CLASSIFICATION BY CRIME, VICTIM, OR CLASS OF VICTIMS; RELEVANT VARIABLES; WORKABLE LIMITS; AND VICTIM INPUT. CRIMES INVOLVING DIRECT VICTIMS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES -- CRIMES OF PASSION AND PROPERTY CRIMES. METHODS FOR PREVENTING THESE CRIMES ARE DESCRIBED. ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIM IS THE MAIN CONSIDERATION IN EXAMINING THE VICTIM'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CHARTS PRESENT INFORMATION ON VICTIM CLASSIFICATIONS BY GENERAL CRIME CATEGORY, AND THE NATIONAL CRIME PANEL VICTIM CLASSIFICATIONS BY CRIME CATEGORIES. (RCB)