Victimization Theories
A college student leaves her laptop unattended in the library while getting coffee, and it is stolen. According to Cohen & Felson's Routine Activities Theory, this element of crimeis missing.
What is the absence of a capable guardian?
The victims' rights movement grew out of activism during these social movements of the 1960s and '70s.
What are the civil rights and women's rights movements?
What is law enforcement contact?
This population experiences violent victimization at disproportionately high rates; they are murdered at rates up to ten times the national average, with thousands of cases unsolved.
Who are Indigenous women and girls?
This barrier explains why an individual who is victimized by a family member might prefer to resolve it privately.
What is Crime Perceived as Not Serious?
After hearing about a robbery, someone says, "He shouldn't have been walking there at night." This reaction reflects this cognitive bias.
What is the just-world hypothesis?
This 1984 federal law created a fund to support victim compensation and assistance programs.
What is the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)?
What is the prosecution phase?
When family members of a homicide victim suffer trauma and loss, they are considered this type of victim.
What are indirect victims?
This occurs when a victim is re-traumatized during insensitive questioning during the trial.
What is Secondary Victimization?
Victim-blaming and reduced empathy for victims are consequences of this.
What is the Just-World Hypothesis?
In the 1980s, President Reagan helped increase national attention to victims by declaring this annual event.
What is Crime Victims' Rights Week?
The statement that a victim gives about how the crime affected their life before sentencing.
What is a victim impact statement?
One of the biggest reasons victims do not report to the police stems from self-blame, fear of judgment, or social stigma.
What is Embarrassment and Shame?
This barrier suggests an ineffective police response.
What is the Belief Nothing Can Be Done?
A woman frequently attends late-night parties where heavy drinking and drug use are common. She is later victimized. This theory would focus on how her routine behaviors increased her exposure to risk.
What is Lifestyle Theory?
This 1994 legislation significantly expanded services for domestic violence victims.
What is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)?
These programs cover medical costs, counseling, lost wages, and funeral expenses.
What are Victim Compensation Programs?
The lack of these two elements is the main reason that families of indigenous women are forced to lead their own searches.
What are media attention or investigative resources?
A domestic violence victim refuses to report because they fear their partner will hurt them.
What is fear of retaliation?
A parked car with valuables visible inside is broken into. These two elements of routine activities thoery are clearly presented.
What is a suitable target and a motivated offender?
Although victims' rights legislation has been enacted by all 50 states, it is still lacking at the federal level.
What is a Constitutional amendment for victims' rights?
After sentencing, a victim may feel abandoned during this phase of the system.
What is post-conviction?
After a series of late-night break-ins in his neighborhood, a resident notices damage to his property but does not involve the police because he fears the vandals might target him personally if he reports. Also, he thinks the financial loss is too small to matter. What two barriers are at play?
What are fear of retaliation and perceiving the crime as not serious barriers?
A college student is robbed on campus but doesn't report it. She feels embarrassed about being targeted and doesn't want her classmates to judge her. Also, she doubts the police can do anything about the situation because there were no security cameras where the crime happened. What two barriers are at play?
What are embarrassment and shame, and the belief that nothing can be done barriers?