Corrections Chapter 14 Notes 1 Victimology criminal activities a Scientific study of the physical emotional and financial harm people suffer because of b Victim Someone who suffers direct or threatened physical emotional or financial harm as the result of a crime also includes the immediate family of homicide victim c Victim s Rights The fundamental rights of victims to be represented equitably throughout the criminal justice process 2 Quantification of suffering a Types of Losses i Tangible losses costs such as medical expenses lost wages and property ii losses as a result of victimization Intangible losses costs such as fear pain suffering and reduced quality of life 3 Social Nature of Victimization a Sex gender i Males are more likely to be victimized for every crime except for sexual crime ii Women more likely to be victimized by someone they know i Under 12 we are most likely to be victimized by family ii 12 19 we are most likely to be victimized by peers iii 20 we are most likely to be victimized by strangers b Age Social Class c d Race i Most crime is intra racial e Relationship between offender victim 4 Theories of Victimization a Victim Precipitation Theory i Active Precipitation 1 Victim acts provocatively ii Passive Precipitation 1 Personal Characteristics 2 Group membership Hate Crimes b Lifestyle Theory Certain lifestyles increase exposure to criminal offenders i Being in a public place late at night ii Living in an urban area iii High risk lifestyles i e drinking drug using iv Criminal lifestyle such as carrying weapons and belonging to gangs v College lifestyle c Deviant Places Theory i Prone to victimization because one resides in a socially disorganized high crime area ii Deviant places include 1 Poor densely populated areas 2 Highly transient neighborhoods 3 Commercial areas with residential property in close proximity d Routine Activities Theory i Motivated Offender ii Suitable target iii Absence of guardian 5 Caring for the Victim a Victim s rights i From a legal perspective crimes are considered offenses against the state ii Until the 1970s victims had little or no status within the justice system and victims rights were virtually nonexistent 1 The first state level victims rights bill Wisconsin s Victims Bill of Rights 1980 2 Victims assistance programs help crime victims understand the system and their legal rights get counseling file civil suits and recoup financial losses iii Right to information iv Right to notification 1 Reasonable accurate and timely notice of any public proceeding involving the crime or any release or escape of the accused v Right to participate 1 Called in as a witness without be abused by offender vi Right to be reasonably protected vii Right to receive restitution i Target hardening involves making one s home and business crime proof ii Use of fences guards surveillance cameras window bars warning signs and iii Kleck Armed victims kill between 1 500 and 2 800 potential felons each year b Self Protection dogs c Notification i Victim Notification 1 Notification to victims of the release or pending release of convicted offenders who have harmed them ii Community Notification 1 Notification to the community of the released or pending release of convicted offenders Megan s Law a Megan s law refers to sex offender registration d Victim Compensation losses i Victims generally have three options for recovering crime related financial 1 State sponsored compensation programs 2 Court ordered restitution 3 Civil remedies ii California created the first U S victim compensation program in 1965 iii Today programs exist in all 50 states iv Restitution 1 Repayment to the victim by the offender for losses damages or expenses that result from crime 2 Many correctional agencies encourage inmates to fulfill restitution obligations by offering incentives for compliance and denying privileges for failure or refusal to pay 3 Offenders who are truly indigent may be given the option to perform community service e Victim impact statements i The victims rights movement also called for the use of victim impact statements before sentencing These statements 1 Provide descriptions of losses suffering and trauma experienced by victims or their survivors