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Categories of Victims (From Verbrechensopfer, P 39-60, 1979, Gerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff and Klaus Sessar, ed. - See NCJ-72716)

NCJ Number
72718
Author(s)
M E vonWolfgang; S I Singer
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Analytical categories of victimology are outlined to provide directions for futher research.
Abstract
Victimization rates can only be measured if crime seriousness is considered. To this end, victimization is classified as primary (direct) victimization of individual victims; secondary victimization of commerical firms, chuches, and other collective organizations; tertiary victimization of public order or government; victimization by mutual consent (as in the case of adultery), and lack of victimization in status crimes such as truancy. Important forms of victimization in need of further investigation are white collar crime and organized crime. Studies on the attractiveness of particular victims pinpoint factors such as victim age, size, and social class, offense location and other geographical considerations, and influence of particular types of architecture. But until more is known about victims' values and their effects on life styles, the term victim subculture cannot be employed. Victimless crimes involve an exchange of goods or services illegally, lack of damage, and no possibility for investigation because the crime is not reported. Studies of offender-victim relationships suggest that the proportion of crimes committed by strangers varies from crime to crime and should be studied further for separate crimes. The areas of victim susceptibility, victim contribution, and victim provocation are closely related. Research in these areas is especially vital for preventive programs. Recidivist victimization has been attributed to such factors as victim age and socioeconomic status; data on repeated victimization are useful for assessment of victimization risks. Although victim compensation has become a popular practice, research has yet to determine a formula for relating the extent of damages to the amount of compensation. Likewise, little is known about the actual negative secondary effects of victim involvement in criminal proceedings. Attention has rarely been devoted to effects on indirect victims, e.g., unborn children of murder victims, criminals' children, and husbands of rape victims. Areas also in need of exploration are overlappings between victim and offender groups and the biological, genetic, and criminogenic social factors that make the offenders themselves victims. Tables, notes, and a 46-item bibliography are supplied.