When a crime has been committed, the criminal justice system recognizes two parties to the case: the defendant and the state. The defendant is prosecuted at the hands of the state, and the victim becomes allocated as a third party. When this happens, the victim’s role becomes delegated to that of a witness and the trauma of victimization is overlooked. However, there are apparent problems with neglecting the relevance of crime victimization. Victims commonly suffer from the aftereffects of both violent and nonviolent crimes. Aside from physical and financial injuries, victims are at risk for numerous psychological issues ranging from negative feelings and anxiety to posttraumatic stress and depression. Victims are also at risk for secondary …show more content…
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Report states that, in 2015, there was an estimated 1,197,704 violent crimes, an increase of 3.9% from the 2014 estimate, and 7,993,631 property crimes. The Uniform Crime Report’s statistics include only those offenses that are reported to and documented by law enforcement, and thus, the numbers are not a reliable indicator of the actual incidence of crimes. The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ National Crime Victimization Survey, which includes crimes reported and not reported to the police, provides a much larger estimate of 5.0 million violent victimizations and 14.6 million property victimizations in 2015. According to data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, 47% of violent crimes and 35% of property crimes were reported to the police in 2015. A closer look into the data reveals that only 32.5% of rape/sexual assault offenses are reported. These low crime reporting rates, which have not seen significant change since 1993, suggest that victims do not view law enforcement favorably or as a legitimate source of help. The negative view victims harbor towards the criminal justice system should be a cause of concern for organizations that provide services for crime victims. Formal resources for victims of crimes should seek to mitigate the suffering of victims, facilitate a cooperative relationship between victims and the criminal justice system, and prevent secondary
Each year, data are obtained from a nationally representative sample of about 90,000 households, comprising nearly 160,000 persons, on the frequency, characteristics, and consequences of criminal victimization in the United States. Each household is interviewed twice during the year. The survey enables BJS to estimate the likelihood of victimization by rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault, theft, household burglary, and motor vehicle theft for the population as a whole as well as for segments of the population such as women, the elderly, members of various racial or ethnic groups, city dwellers, and other groups. The NCVS provides the largest national forum for victims to describe the impact of crime and characteristics of violent offenders.”
The criminal justice system is often criticized for re-victimizing victims of crime. What changes could the “system” make in order to minimize the re-victimizationexperience for victims of crime? Include examples from the criminal justice system, victim services and the
According to Rachel Boba, “Crime analysis is a law enforcement function that involves systematic analysis for identifying and analyzing patterns and trends in crime and disorder” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime analysis).The information on these patterns can assist law enforcement agencies in the deployment of resources in a more effective manner; it can also help detectives to identify and catch suspects. Crime analysis also plays a role in improvising solutions to crime problems, and developing crime prevention strategies. There are various types of technology that is used in crime analysis. Crime analysis relies heavily on computer technology, and over the past fifteen years there has been a significant improvement in computer hardware and
This essay will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of sociological explanations of crimes with links to Durkheim’s anomie theory, Merton’s strain theory and the Labelling theory which will draw upon different academics that will highlight these specific areas of research. In sociological terms, crime is a social concept as it does not exist as an autonomous entity, but it is socially constructed by people. It can be analysed that sociological explanations of crime attribute deviance to various aspects of the social environment. For example, crime is strongly related to modern city life where this type of social environment creates cultural enclaves which results in producing criminal or deviant behaviour (Carrabine et al, 2014).
The introduction of Nils Christie’s ‘Ideal victim’ theory (1986: 18) refers to victims of crime who can attain the status of a legitimate victim in the eyes of the public. Christie outlines a criteria which needs to be followed in order to gain this full status of a ‘legitimate victim’. Christie’s ‘ideal victim’ however is not the same as a legal victim and often real victims of crime deviate far from the concept of the ideal victim (Beck & Janbakhsh 2010). This therefore means that using Christie’s ideal victim theory to give someone the title of a legitimate victim is often detrimental. Male victims of sexual assault often deviate from the ‘ideal victim’ criteria set out by Christie, this means that when they encounter the justice system, their experiences are often marginalised or discounted entirely.
Causes of crime are arguably criminology’s most important and largest research topic. In this process of research, criminologists and academics have used numerous theories in attempts to explain how and why people resort to crime (Ellis, Beaver, Wright, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to examine a case study first with the use of strain theories (ST), followed by social learning theory (SLT). The first section will involve a summary of the case of R v Mark Andrew HUGHES (2009) NSWDC 404 involving an outline of the offender’s personal life, of his crimes, and his punishment handed down by
The Universal Crime Report (UCR) is a nationwide program that collects data and statistical information concerning crime in the US. Some examples of these crimes include murder, robbery, aggravated assault, hate crimes and many more. The UCR is a collaborative program that reports information from all cities and towns across the country and involves different law enforcement at various levels of government. The UCR is very useful in today’s law enforcement. The UCR provides law enforcement with information that they use to help budget the money that is needed to protect our society. The UCR evaluates crime data, combines data to get an overall picture of the crimes, identify trends, and looks to see where improvement is needed.
As the KSU OVS has grown, the number of clients we serve and the victimization type we respond to has grown. In 2016, our client base grew by 30%, with our staff concentrated on providing services to victims of the violent crimes of sexual assault, domestic and interpersonal violence, and stalking. In 2017, we were awarded VOCA funding which enabled KSU OVS to provide direct services and advocacy to all types of victimization in which we were understaffed to offer adequate assistance prior to the VOCA funding, namely victims of larceny, fraud, identity theft crimes, and other forms of property related crimes. These additional services expanded our client list by 137%, with most of these clients experiencing some form
Outline and explain the three key goals victims can pursue through the criminal justice system.
This paper will describe my understanding of the text and of the lectures provided in the class. Unlike most classes, where I understood only my view of the text, this class was geared so each student would understand each other’s view. 3 An organization is a collective that has some boundary and internal structure that engages in activities related to some complex set of goals. Members of organizations attempt to meet their psychological, ego and emotional needs within the organization. Criminal justice organizations are particularly unique compared to other public or private sector organizations because of the governmental granted authority. Management within these organizations can be defined as the process by
Public criminology takes information, research and education to the next level, as discovered through this essay. It doesn’t just include lab work, research and discoveries, it involves community based teaching in a way that the public can be informed and educated through upfront communication. Throughout this essay, the broad definition of public criminology will be discussed as well as its relevance to society. As with anything, there are challenges and promises that accompany public criminology and those will be stated in this essay. Examples will be given to help you learn the different concepts of public criminology and how it relates to our modern society. Given as a starting point, according to
This assignment will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the positive approach to victimology. It will do this by looking at other victimology approaches such as; Radical, feminist, and critical victimology. Analysing the different theories within each approach, to highlight the negatives and positives within the positivist approach to victimology.
Since the beginning of the regime on criminal law, countries across the world have been focused on the rights of the accused and not those of victim. This is because of the consideration that the accused is alone and the government as well as the societal machinery is running against him.
From the beginning of time there have always been crimes against persons. People went by the saying “An eye for an eye”. You stole from your neighbor, they stole from you. You hurt someone, they hurt you. It wasn’t until the 1940’s people started taking a closer look into these crimes against person, which they later called victimology. This paper will look into victimology and their theories as we go back into the past and how victimology is now.
In general the definition of a crime is an act punishable by law, usually considered an evil act. Crime refers to many types of misconduct forbidden by law. Crimes include such things as murder, stealing a car, resisting arrest, possession or dealing of illegal drugs, being nude in public , drunk driving, and bank robbery. Crime is an act that has been timeless and has been committed practically since the start of time. For example, ever since Cain killed his brother Abel (B.C.), people being charged with witchcraft in the 1600’s, prostitution, to the current crimes of modern day(A.D.). Even though crime has existed throughout time it has progressed and branched out taking many types forms.