Victimological Developments in the World during the Past Three Decades: A Study of Comparative Victimology–Part 2

Abstract

During the past three decades, 10 international symposia on victimology have taken place in different parts of the world. This article presents in two parts a comprehensive overview of the discussion results of these symposia and of the most important literature contributions to criminological victimization research over the past three decades. In the first part of the report, the risk and causes of victimization are discussed. In this second part of the article, the deliberation of damage suffered by the victims-the negative psychical and social effectsis emphasized. Damage suffered by the indirect victim (covictim) is highlighted. The significance of the victim-offender sequence is mitigated to a certain extent. As far as recidivist victimization is concerned, the model of the victim career is developed. The constitutional and procedural legal rights of the victims and potential victims are elucidated.

Double, triple or quadruple hits? Exploring the impact of cybercrime on victims in the Netherlands

“…Gintner (2001) proposes that this may be even more common for homicide survivors. The shattering of these assumptions means that a victim's core beliefs -that bad things do not happen to good people or that the world is a just place -are negatively influenced or even destroyed (Gintner, 2001;Schneider, 2001).…”

Sexual Assault Crisis Centre Workers' Perceptions of Law Enforcement: Defining the Situation from a Systems Perspective

“…Indeed, other authors have suggested that not all victims are interested in retaliation or utilising law enforcement to respond to the victimisation event (Karmen, 2001;Schneider, 2001;Shapland, 2000). Also, retaliation is not the only reason victims call the police.…”

“…Of course, a number of factors including offence type and degree of follow-up activity have been found to influence victim satisfaction with the police (Poister & McDavid, 1978). Indeed, other authors have suggested that not all victims are interested in retaliation or utilising law enforcement to respond to the victimisation event (Karmen, 2001;Schneider, 2001;Shapland, 2000). Also, retaliation is not the only reason victims call the police.…”

Emotions and the Criminal Law

“…In addition, attention to emotion has motivated a wide interest into reforming the current criminal systems. The literatures on victimology (Bandes‘Empathy, Narrative and Victim Impact Statement’; Crawford and Goodey Integrating a Victim Perspective within Criminal Justice ; Schneider‘Victimological Developments in the World During the Past Three Decades: A Study of Comparative Victimology’, Part I and II; Davis) and on restorative justice (Braithwaite; Ahmed et al.; Johnstone; Philpott; Sullivan) attempt to propose new goals for criminal law, beyond deterrence and retribution.…”