Victimology
The branch of criminology that scientifically studies the
relationship between an injured party and an offender by
examining the causes and the nature of the
consequent suffering.
It focuses on whether the perpetrators were complete
strangers, mere acquaintances, friends, family members, or
even intimates and why a particular person was targeted.
Criminal victimization may inflict economic costs, physical
injuries and psychological harm.
Criminal victims
Could be key actors in the criminal justice process.
Becomes the FORGOTTEN PERSON of the CJS while the
criminal is the celebrity.
Victims are only valued for their capacity to report crimes
and to appear in court as witnesses.
Victim Blaming
A phenomenon where the victims of crimes are held
accountable for what happened to them.
It allows people to believe that such events could never
happen to them.
Benjamin Mendelsohn
He believes that most victims had an “unconscious aptitude
for being victimized”.
He coined the term victimology.
Hans Von Hentig
He wrote an article about the victim – criminal interaction.
Theories Of Victimization
1. Victim Precipitation. The person who suffers eventual harm
from a crime plays a direct role in causing the crime to be
perpetrated. It occurs when the offender’s action is committing or
beginning to commit a crime is initiated after and directly related
to an action (be it physical, verbal, conscious or unconscious) on
the part of the victim.
a. Active Precipitation. Occurs when victim acts provocatively,
use threats or fighting words, or even attack first. When female
victims dress provocatively or pursuing relationships with a rapist.
b.Passive Precipitation. Occurs when the victims exhibit some
personal characteristics that unknowingly either threatens or
encourages the attacker. The crime can occur because of personal
conflict - when two people compete for a job, promotions, love
interests
2. Lifestyle or Exposure Theory. Victimization depends heavily
upon the concept of life style. Victims put themselves in danger
by engaging in high-risk activities.
3. Routine Activities Theory. Developed by Marcus Felson and
Lawrence Cohen. A pool of motivated offenders exists, and these
offenders will take advantage of unguarded, suitable targets.
Elements:
a. A likely offender
b. A suitable target
c. The absence of a capable guardian
4. Deviant Place Theory. Victims are prone to victimization
because one resides in a socially disorganized high-crime
area. Deviant places include poor densely populated area, highly
transient neighborhoods, and commercial areas with residential
property in close proximity.
General Classes of Victims (Based on the classification of Hans
Von Hentig)
1. The Young - the weak by virtue and immaturity
2. The Female – often less physically powerful and easily
dominated by males.
3. The Old – the incapable of Physical defense and the common
object of confidence scheme.
4. The Mentally Defective – those that are unable to think clearly.
5. The Immigrant – those that are unsure of the rules of conduct
in the surrounding society.
6. The Minorities – racial prejudice may lead to victimization or
unequal treatment by the agency of justice.
Psychological Types of Victims
1. The Depressed – submissive person by virtue of emotional
condition
2. The Acquisitive or Greedy – person who wants more than what
is sufficient makes a natural victim of crime.
3. The Wanton or Overly Sensual - a person ruled by passion and
thoughtlessly seeking pleasure.
4. The Lonesome – person who eventually becomes a victim by
virtue of wanting companionship or affection
5. The Heartbroken – one who is emotionally disturbed by virtue
of heartaches and pains.
6. The Tormented – a victim who asked for it, often from his own
family or friend.
Other Types of Victims
Benjamin Mendelsohn, a European defense attorney created
his own classification of victim types. This includes the following
six categories:
1. The completely innocent victim – such a person is an ideal
victim in popular perception. In this category placed persons
victimized while they were unconscious, and the child victims.
2. Victims with only minor guilt and those victimized due to
ignorance.
3. The victim who guiltier than the offender – this category was
described as containing persons who provoked the criminal or
actively induced their own victimization.
4. The most guilty victim “who is guilty alone” – an attacker killed
by a would be victim in the act of defending themselves were
placed in this category.
5. The imaginary victim – those suffering from mental disorders,
or those victims due to extreme mental abnormalities.
PENAL COUPLE
Penal Couple is a term that describes the relationship
between the victim and the criminal.
VICTIMAL
Describes the victim, counterpart of criminal.
VICTIMITY
It signified the opposite of criminality.
LOSER
One who is initially the attacker but later, the situation is
reversed.
Dynamics of Victimization
A. Victims of Crime Model (by Bard and Sangrey). According to
this model, there are three stages involved in any victimization.
1. Stage of Impact and Disorganization - during and immediately
following the criminal event.
2. Stage of Recoil – during which the victim formulates
psychological defenses and deals with conflicting emotions of
guilt, anger, acceptance and desire of revenge (3-8mon).
3. Reorganization Stage – during which the victim puts his or her
life back to normal daily living.*Some victims, however may not
successfully adopt the victimization experience and
a maladaptive reorganization stage may last for many years.
B. Disaster Victim’s Model This model was developed to explain
the coping behavior of victims of natural disaster. According to
this model, there are four stages of victimization:
1. Pre-impact – the stage which describes the victim’s condition
prior to being victimized.
2. Impact – the stage at which victimization occurs.
3. Post-impact – the stage which entails the degree and duration
of personal and social disorganization following victimization.
4. Behavioral Outcome – the stage that describes the victim’s
adjustment to the victimization experience.
Factors of Victimization
1. Hedonism
2. Materialistic Culture
3. Sex Values
4. Decay of discipline
5. Public morality
Other factors of Victimization:
1. Provocation
2. Instigation – encourage a criminal to take action
3. Facilitation – victim places himself at risk
4. Vulnerability or invitation
5. Cooperation – victim is a party to a consensual crime (public
order crime)
6. Attractiveness
7. Impunity – victim did not report the crime
Republic Act No. 7309 - Otherwise referred to as the Victim
Compensation Program.
