Prior to the 1970s, most criminologists devoted their time to the study of criminals and the causes of crime. Crime victims were virtually invisible within the criminal justice system and to the general public; there was little or no focus on the victims of crime. In the 1970s, U.S. funded studies of crime in several major cities revealed that victimization was underestimated and that large numbers of crime victims were being underserved by the criminal justice system. A new branch of criminology emerged that focused on the victims of crimes. This branch is known as victimology.
This week, you begin your exploration of victimology by examining the characteristics and needs of direct and indirect victims of crime.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Identify direct and indirect victims of crime
Analyze the effect of crime on direct and indirect victims
Analyze the difference between the needs of direct and indirect victims of crime