Victimology Phase 1(2)

Victimology

Every year , thousands of cases regarding homicide , physical violence and abuse are reported and handled by different governmental agencies For decades , victims were usually not the focus of investigations since apprehending the criminal was the main concern . Mendelsohn and Von Hentig , who developed the study of victimology , pointed out that an assaulted person not only helps in identifying the criminal but the said victim also provides crucial information about the next targeted individual that the criminal has in mind . With this information , it might also indicate the next move of

the criminal . This important concept has been neglected by the criminal justice system all along Fortunately , the study of victimology , which is now a sub-field of criminology , sheds some needed understanding to this matter

In addition , issues of physical violence and abuse have been greatly emphasized by movements such as the feminist movement , children rights groups and civil rights movement . Nowadays , there are hotlines that victims can call to assist them with their specific problem . However the government has to alter the criminal justice process for victimized people . This is because investigations and trials that take place have to remind these people of the incident that they have been through

Victimology was not seen as essential by the criminal justice system but victimology can tremendously aid law enforcement agents . This is because victimology , known as the scientific study of victimization including the relationships between victims and offenders , the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system . and the connections between victims and other societal groups and institutions ' tackles a different point of view in looking at a crime (US Dept of Justice , 2007a . Most of the time , victims are chosen by the criminal for a specific reason . For instance , the criminal has a fantasy or desire that can only be satisfied by certain victims . Thus , how the offender chooses his or her victims is a pertinent issue as it provides an insight into how the offender thinks , which subsequently affects how the perpetrator acts (Petherick , 2007 . Therefore , Victimology examin[es] every facet of [a victim 's] lifestyle , background , health and physical characteristics ' to gain a better understanding of the criminal who perpetrated an unacceptable act (Petherick , 2007

Victimology was made possible by two criminologists , namely Mendelsohn and Von Hentig (US Department of Justice , 2007a . In the 1940 's-1950 's they started to conduct a study on the victims ' behaviors and their vulnerability as victims (US Department of Justice , 2007a . Mendelsohn interviewed victims and soon realized that these people possess an unconscious aptitude for being victimized (Stevens , 2003 . Hentig conveys the same sentiment and explains that victims also play a role in provoking the criminal when they create or foster a situation that incites the criminal to commit the crime (Fattah , 2000 . These two men are not blaming the victims per say but they are just indicating that among thousands or millions of people in a certain city or even neighborhood , how come certain individuals are most likely to be targeted...