This essay will discuss victimology and define its meaning. It will explain how victimology is important in criminology. This section will discuss the history of victimology and how it has changed over time.
Victimology has emerged as a new field of Biosocial science. It examines the relationship between victims and criminals and describes individuals who are physically hurt by criminals. Benjamin Mendelsohn was a key figure of victimology. He was first to use the name “victimology” in 1947. He could also see the difference between criminalology and victimology. Mendelsohn also examines the reasons victims were left with the consequences of crime and ignored. Criminology studies criminals, their motives, and the workings of the criminal justice system. Victimology is the study and analysis of victims. Victimology focuses on the victim and their background to better understand why they were targeted. Von Hentig developed a model of the victim’s ‘characteristics’. Christie conducted a study on the “ideal” victim to explain why some victims were overlooked. Christie defines an ‘ideal victims’ as “any individual or group that, when victimized by a crime is able to be given the legal and complete status of victim.” The 16th century saw the first use of the term “victim”, but it wasn’t until 1947 that the English Language used the term. The definition of victim was “a living creature that is killed and offered to a god or other supernatural power.” Victimology has been a strong part of criminology.
Victimization of criminals was a major area that needed to be overlooked. They would not get the support they need and would not be treated like victims should be. Incorporating victimology into criminalology has made a significant improvement in the criminal justice system’s approach to crime victims and their treatment. Because victimization can be a transformative tool in criminalology, it is essential to the discipline. It examines criminal activity differently. Victimology could represent the long-awaited paradigm switch in criminology. There are two types major of victimology. These are general victimology (or penal victimology). These two types differ in the way they identify and describe victims. General victimology covers individuals who are victims of accidents and natural disasters. This victimology is concerned with how the victim is treated following an accident, and what the consequences are. In contrast, penal victimology emphasizes the legal perspective and the rights of victims following a crime.
Victimology represents the shift towards recognition. In April 2006, all police forces were required to adopt the Victims Code of Practice. It was also made available to parole boards, probation officers, and prisons. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, which established it, published it. This was the catalyst for the creation of the code. The Victims Code of Practice was designed to define each criminal agency’s obligations to victims. It also outlines the time frames within which they must complete it. Victims had immediate access to emotional support from a trained worker. They also had to be assessed for their housing, practical, emotional, security, and health needs. This code provides support for victims and their families, as well as vulnerable victims. During a case, victims will be assigned a liaison officer to provide additional support. The victims have been provided with the support they require. A victim may need guidance and reassurance. Victims can now write a victim statement. This is a significant improvement in the criminal justice system. Before, victims weren’t heard and didn’t have a voice.
Victimology can be viewed from three perspectives: radical, positivist and critical. Positivist victimology refers to a social science approach to victimology. It focuses on the scientific study of causality and attempts at assessing victimization. It examines the causes, namely victim blaming. Victims are examined in detail and analyzed from this perspective. It has focused on three main concerns: the identification and analysis of factors that may lead to victimization in an individual or their environment, as well as a focus on violence against others.
Miers positivist victimology focused on two aspects. Early studies focused on victim-proneness. Von Hentig has studied victim characteristics as an example. He discusses the psychological and social characteristics of victims and what they might have done to provoke an incident.
Hentig details the reasons victim proneness was so ignored in the typology. As a criminologist, Hentig was more concerned with the victims of crime than the criminals. It was his belief that understanding the victim and criminal relationships could help to prevent crimes from repeating. He devised a study to find out what makes a victim an victim. He described the twelve characteristics of victims, and then he identified them. A female victim would be more likely because they are perceived as weak and vulnerable. Hentig’s study also shows that mentally deranged and mentally impaired people are more likely to be victims. They lack the ability to make their own decisions and can’t see when they are being exploited. Christie’s study of the ‘ideal victims’ means that people are treated differently when they don’t fit the criteria.
Victims can bring on a crime by themselves, as in rape. If they’re wearing revealing clothes, walking alone at night, or are being attacked by someone else, the victim can share some of their ‘blame’. Wolfgang explains how this belief is explained in his study. The crimes are not random. They are socially-patterned. This knowledge will help to prevent crime. This study also found that Philadelphia was home to 588 homicides. 26% were caused by precipitation. This study is related to positivist victimology, which focuses on the victim being blamed and the victim taking responsibility for their actions. This approach is now widely discredited, so it can be subject to criticism. Many of the research was speculation rather than empirically based. Now positivism is still controversial because it tends to be focused on traditional crimes.
The evidence is sufficient to conclude that victimology has been effective and important in criminalology. Victimology has been a key element in improving criminology throughout the years. This has allowed for a better understanding of criminals and their offender. It offers a new perspective on criminology and a different way of looking at crime. Victims are more visible than ever before. They can now use the victim’s code to help them in criminal cases. The Code of Practice gave victims the opportunity to have a say in the matter and ensured that victims receive the care they need.
