Impact of Victimization on People Other Than the Primary Victim

This article discusses the impact of victimization on people other than the primary victim, primary victimization, victim satisfaction, victims' movement, vicarious trauma, functional/dysfunctional effects of fear of crime, victimization risks, criminal justice reform, victimization that occurs more than once, victimization within the family, and measuring victimization. It also sheds light on self-blame and victim blaming.

1. Effect of victimisation on people other than the primary victimisation
Before discussing impact of victimisation or crimes on people, it is important to
understand the actual meaning of crime. In this regard, it can be said that it refers an action that
is being done by an individual that is against the law of country. Any act that can hurt others and
are prohibited to do. In week 11, impact of crimes has been discussed. In this week, effect of
crime on community and third person has been discussed. Neighbourhoods are collection of
individual residents. In this week, impacts of victimisation on society members have been
discussed. It has shown that crimes rate increases fear among society members.
It is characterised by low socioeconomic status and residential stability. Crimes affect the
whole community and neighbourhood along with the primary victim. For example: kidnapper
kidnap a girl of one rich family that lives in a posh area (Mulder, Pemberton and Vingerhoets,
2020). Kidnapper demands for money and threaten her family that if they do not give demanded
money then they will kill her daughter. This crime affects that girl and her family. But along with
this, this crime will affect the whole community and neighbours of that family as they will also
frighten with this act. They will not allow their children to go out lonely and it will increase fear
among them. So, on the basis and characteristics, discussed in week 11, it can be said that
victimisation has great impact on people other than primary victims.
Primary victimisation
In week 10 as well as in week 6, introduction on victimisation has been discussed. On
the basis of content and learning of week 6, it can be said that primary victim is the one who has
directly been involved in crime or an accident. Death and effect on victim of crimes is a direct
result of primary victimisation. In other words, it can be said that primary victim refers a person
against whom violent crime has beessn done and gets affected the most than others.

Victim satisfaction within the criminal justice system
Criminal justice system of Australia is effective and on the basis of survey as well as
learning, it is found that women, who take advantages of criminal justice system, are more likely
to have positive outcomes. Women tend to be more satisfied when community based agencies
and criminal justice system collaborate their efforts. in addition, it is also found that victim
satisfaction can be improved when staff at service agencies listen to victims’ incidents and
provide them with services that are suitable and helpful.
Victims’ movement
In regard to victims’ movement and victims’ rights it can be said that it includes right to
restitution and right to speak at criminal justice proceeding. As per the victims’ movement,
primary victims can seek for fair decision and punishment for criminals. Basic principles of
justice for victims of crime has been declared. ACTIP is responsible community aged care
program that provide clear obligations for ASEAN member states in order to protect rights of
trafficking victims.
Victims’ impact statement
Victims’ impact statements refer a written as well as spoken statement that discusses
impacts of crimes on primary and secondary victims. It also discusses some harms that victims
suffer from. These harms that are included in victims’ impact statement include: emotional,
physical, economic and psychological effects. This statement affect sentencing.
Vicarious trauma
It is an emotional residue of exposure that counsellors have when they work with victims
and listen their trauma stories. On the basis of victims’ trauma stories, such counsellors become
evidence to pain and terror that victims have endured.

Functional/dysfunctional effects of fear of crime
Fear of crime can be discussed as fear of being victim of crime. it can be differentiated
into behaviours and public feelings about person risks. Fear of crimes has number of functional
as well as dysfunctional effects. One of the main impact that crimes have on people other than
primary victims is negative physical and economic consequences such as: brain damage and
depression. It changes their behaviours towards others. People do not trust anyone when crimes
happen with their closed ones and members in their societies. It affects females to the great
extent as due to fear of kidnapping and other crimes, their parents do not allow them to go
outside (Fisseland Reyns, 2020).
Victimisation risks
Victimisation refers an act of treating someone badly and committing crimes that affect others.
There are number of risk factors for victimisation such as: high risk sexual behaviour,
unemployment and others. On the basis of content of learning it is found that there is a link
between lifestyle and victimisation risks. Educated and individuals with low risk for
victimisation are more likely to aware of their surroundings and avoid dangerous situations. but
unemployment, fear of crimes and depression risks of victimisation affect people to the great
extent.
Criminal justice reform
Due to increasing rate of crimes, CBA has made decision of criminal justice reform.
Criminal justice reform has number of benefits such as savings and fewer crimes. Criminal
justice reform has become a dire necessity. Some areas that have been selected for reform
include: discriminatory sentencing, police brutality and others. By doing so crimes rates can be
decreased.

2. Victimisation that occur more than once
There are number of crimes that happen more than once and twice. The reason behind
repeated crimes is poor implementation of laws and regulations. Lack of strict punishments.
There are some examples of crimes or victimisation that occur more than once include: theft,
theft from vehicle, assault, theft of vehicle and others. For all these types of crimes, there is poor
regulations and lack of strict regulations. Criminals know police caught them then they will be
bailed easily with some amount of penalty and 5-10 days of imprisonment. In week 6, some
different types of crimes has been discussed along with their intensity or prevalence rate. Vehicle
theft was: 87%, assault with weapon was around 51%, robbery was: 61%burglary was: 71% and
theft was around 34%.
Repeat or multiple victimisations:
Week 8 has discussed main terms that define repeat victimisation. it is all about same
offence that happen soon after one offence. When one person suffers more than one criminal act
over a short period of time then it is also known as repeat victimisation. Some authors say that it
is all about bad luck when one person gets affected again and again with crimes. In US there are
5.9% of young people who become repeated thefts (Brown, Sanciand Hegarty, 2021).
Re-Victimisation
When victimisation or crimes lead severe or additional trauma to victim then it is called
victimisation. It is also connected with repeat victimisation. Sexual abuse is the main type of
repeat victimisation. Child abuse is also considered as re victimisation that leads mental health

issues among children. Australian study outlined in an article stated that the main disturbing side
effect of child sexual abuse is an increased likelihood the survivor will be abused again in life.
Secondary victimisation:
Week 7, part 2 it has discussed definition of secondary victimisation. When crimes affect
more people than the direct victim then it is known as secondary victimisation. It is also known
as indirect victimisation. Fear of crimes is the main type of secondary victimisation. People get
affected when they hear about someone who has been victimised directly. It has shown ways in
which violence affect on family members, neighbours and friends along with direct victims.
It affects people emotionally and sometimes it may have severe effect on their mental
health. Overall, it can be said that victimisation has number of negative impacts on victims and
other than victims.
Event dependence
It refers behavioural changes that happen in victims of crimes. After crimes and getting
affected from crimes, direct victims become vulnerable and it is known as event dependence.
There are number of crimes that happens on repeated manner such as discrimination, assault with
females, theft and others (Kavemann and et.al., 2018). Drug usages and committing crimes in
unconscious manner alters behaviour. It increases stress among them.
Risk heterogeneity
It refers causes of repeat victimisation and initial victimisation. It is stated that people
should focus on identifying changes that has happened in first instance of victimisation rather
focusing on risk factors that are involved and make initial victimisation more likely.

3. Victimisation within the family
On the basis of reading of week 7, it can be said that there is close relationship between
crime and fear of crime. Fear of crime can be discussed as an emotional response to crime,
feeling of security and others (Dinisman and Moroz, 2017). When crimes happen in society and
at any place then it increases fear among people of that area. For knowing both emotional and
practical problems of crimes, it is important to know different types of crimes that happen often
and affect people to the great extent.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence is the type of crime from which majority of people get affected. It can
be defined as violence or threats in an intimate relation. Financial control, abusive behaviour to
partners. There are some community services that help victims of domestic violence and help
them out.
Intimate partner violence:
It is the type of domestic violence that affects females to the great extent. It is the type of
violence that happens between romantic parents or married people. partner who is being tortured
or violent become depressed, frustrated. It is the main reason of suicide. such cases also lead fear
among people who are unmarried as they have trust issues (Erezand Harper, 2018). But there are
number of females who stay with their violent partner as they are emotionally attached to them.
So, it is one of the best example of emotional problem by crimes.
Domestic abuse

Victims find difficulties in forgetting crimes that have happened with them even after
healing injuries and wounds that lead by crimes. Intense practical and emotional feelings that
they experience include: anger, isolation, depression, helplessness and lower self-esteem
(Gaitán-Rossi and Shen, 2018). Fear of being alone and fear of talking with strangers make them
feel helplessness and this feeling leads negative thoughts such as suicide, crime and others. It has
also seen that victims of crimes become criminal because of loneliness and depression.
Depression make them unable to recognise the different between the right and wrong.
IPV prevalence
On the basis of CDC’s national intimate partner data, it is found that about 1 in every 4 women
as well as 1 in every 10 men have experienced sexual violence and intimate partner violence.
Afghanistan is the country that has the highest rate of IPV cases. In regard to Australia, it is
found that IPV prevalence is towards the lowest end of the spectrum (McLindon, Humphreys
and Hegarty, 2018).
Cycle of IPV abuse
There are 4 main stages in the cycle of violence such as: tension building phase, crisis
stage, reconciliation and calm stage. Abusive partners suffer a lot in their lives as they become
depressed, find difficulties in performing functions and it is called first stage. Second stage
includes: abuse, insult, threats of harm and others. After the incidence, tensions among victims
began to fade. Abusers start using kindness and then it leads to calm stage.
4. Measuring victimisation
Some ways of measuring victimisation have discussed in week 7 and week 10. It can also help
out in knowing reasons of self-blame and what makes this more likely to occur.

Crime rate
The Australia bureau of statistics compile the crim results from policing services. This
record shows areas where crimes happen more often. It can help out in knowing the reason of
crimes that happen more than once and areas where crimes happen.
Frequency of crime rate
As per the data, it is found that crime rates have been decreased in Australia from 19571
to 18809 within a year. Australia is on 44th rank in age of criminal responsibility. In crime level,
it is on 46th rank. Murder related cases in Australia, in the year of 2018 was 0.89 that was
increased of 7.98 from 2017 (https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/AUS/australia/murder-
homicide-rate).
Official /administrative data
On the basis of official and administrative data, it is found that developing countries get
affected the most with crimes like rape and others. The main reason of such crimes in developing
countries is perception of people towards gender role (Chen and Chen, 2019). Due to this reason
and perception of people, crime rate increases in developing countries.
Victimisation survey
As per the survey, some data has been gathered regarding crimes rates in Australia. On
the basis of victimisation survey, it is found that in the last 12 years around 492,900 people
experienced face to face threatened assault, 467,800 people suffered from physical assault. On
the basis of this data, it can be said that there is requirement of criminal justice reform in order to
decrease this rate and improving living standard (Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2021).
Self-report survey data

There are different ways of knowing about crime rates. Self-report survey is a type of
questionnaire in which responsible institutes ask questions from people regarding topic. In this
regard, it can be said that number of survey has been done and outcomes shows that incidents
never come to the attention of authorities and it leads repeat victimisation.
In addition, it can be said that victim blaming and self-blame comes in many forms. It can
be applied to cases of rape and sexual assault. When males get pickpocketed then they are being
chided for their decision of carrying their wallet in their back pocket. It increases fear and they
blame themselves for crime that has happened with them. Overall, it can be said that people start
self-blaming and victim blaming only because of perception of societies and people. In other
words, it can be said that victim blaming is something called the just world hypothesis (Kaplan,
2019). Holding victims responsible for their misfortune is just a way to avoid admitting that
something just as unthinkable could happen to them. It can be decreased only when people
changes their perception towards crimes and gender roles.
Victim blaming and self-blame is common in crimes. It occurs because of social factors
and perception of people. It can commonly be seen among girls. It occurs when victims of crime
have done something different to prevent a crime. He or she thinks that if he had used different
technique then she or he could have been prevented. It increased guilty and they start blaming
themselves for crimes that have happened with them. There are some psychological factors and
perspectives of people that also lead self-blaming. Females in societies are often asked to not
wear short dresses, not to go outside at nights and others. When girls go against of these things
and crime happens with them then also they blame themselves that they did not abide their
parents that is why crimes happen (Sáezand et.al., 2020). Victim blaming and self-blame

increases depression and suicidal cases. When people feel that they have done something wrong
and that is why they become victim of crime then they find difficulties in facing society and they
commit suicide. So, on this basis, it can be said that self-blaming also leads crimes. Overall, on
the basis of above discussed types of crimes, it can be said that victim of crimes suffers to the
great extent.
5. Changes in the criminal justice system to better serve victim
Crime causes crime model
Crime causes crim model pay attention on the idea that physical body via brain structure has
an influence of individual’s involvement in criminal behaviour. It helps out in knowing all main
root causes of crimes and accordingly actions can be taken.
Social disorganization
Social disorganization refers an inability of community members for accomplishing shared
values or solving jointly problem. Crimes are main problem that affect society as whole but
social disorganization can increase negative impacts. In week 11, some ways have been shown
that can help us out in knowing actual impacts of crimes. Survey can be done with victims of
crimes and societies where crimes have happened. It affects family members and close relatives
of primary victim of crimes. They have to suffer a lot. So, in this regard, it can be said that
crimes affect everyone to the great extent.
Collective efficacy
This term can be defined as an ability of community members to control behaviour of
individuals in community. This behaviour leads safe environment. In other words, it can be said

that unity and an ability of people of fighting together against unaccepted things bring number of
positive changes. By improving this behaviour¸ crime rates can be decreased.
In regard to crime, it is found from survey and lecture content from week 7 that there are
functional as well as dysfunctional effects of fear of crime. Research has also been done on this
topic from survey (Kamaluand Onyeozili, 2018). On the basis of survey outcomes, it can be said
that by possessing a reasonable level of fear about crime, logical thinking in average person can
be provided. It is believed that when people have fear of crime to the great extent then crimes
increase and it becomes dysfunctional. It is important to decrease crimes rate in order to improve
life expectancy and making people fearless. For this purpose, some changes or alterations have
been done in criminal justice system reform. It includes investigative approach by police where
victims are referred to specialist officers in order to identify reasons of crimes and repetition of
crimes. Some programs have also been developed on concepts of victim impact statements. In
this program some rules and policies have been made in order to support victims and providing
them an opportunity to raise voice to them for sentencing offender in CJS and assist with
victim’s rehabilitation (Elias, 2017).
Some alternative justice responses system includes inquisitorial systems that might be
explored as options in some types of circumstances. It has become important for justice system
to consider culturally diverse context. It can make restorative justice system effective. The main
aim of making changes in existing justice system is to make victims feel valued. Crimes affect
victims to the great extent and it makes them unable to go and seek for justice. They find
difficulties in attaining hearing. For solving this problem and providing them quick justice, some

changes have been made (Beckett, 2018).It is believed that by making changes injustice system
and by making it strict, crimes rates can be decreased. In developed countries, there are some
strict rules and punishments are very strict. people think twice before committing crimes. So, on
the basis of this, it can be said that changes in justice system can bring number of positive
changes in societies. It can decrease crimes rate, fear of crimes among people that would
decrease other cases of suicide.

REFERENCES
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