Understanding Victimology
Added on 2019-11-26
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Running head: VICTIMOLOGY1VictimologyName:Institutional Affiliation:
VICTIMOLOGY2VictimologyAccording to criminologists, the role of the victims in the criminal acts is important in understanding the crime itself. For the purpose of understanding victimology, this paper analysesthree major theories of victimization in relation to a case study of Carla and Casey. These theories include the victim precipitation theory, the lifestyle theory and the deviant place theory. The victim precipitation theory argues that the victims of the crimes can themselves initiate the criminal actions whether actively or passively, but cause injury or death at the end (Truman, 2011). Passive precipitation is that in which the victim unconsciously displays the acts that instigate the attack. According to Siegel (2006), examples include successes, job status, job promotions and love interests. Active precipitation, on the other hand, is that in which victimization happens through provocative actions of the target person. For instance, women who get raped may have actively contributed to the action in some way. This could happen through some suggested consent of intimacy or having provocative dresses, and so on. However, if it happens to be the case, it would be difficult to convict the accused. As such, this theory requires that people ask themselves whether or not it would be right blaming the offence on the victim or on the accused (Seigel, 2006). Lifestyle theory, however, purports that people are targeted according to their choices of life which may expose them to instances where offenses may occur and to criminals as well. Lastly, the deviant place theory is a victimization theory that states that the more an individual gets exposed to dangerous places, the more he or she is likely to become a victim of a criminal act (Siegel, 2006). According to this theory, the victims end up in crime situations because of exposing themselves in bad areas. Thus, for individuals to lower their chances of
VICTIMOLOGY3falling victims of violence, they are supposed to avoid areas where rates of crimes are high (Victimization, n.d.). All the three theories relate to Carla’s case of victimization. First, in relation to the victimprecipitation theory, it can be concluded that Carla initiated the criminal action that occurred, which also led to her death. In this case, active precipitation is more applicable than passive one. It was quite clear both to Carla and Casey that Casey lived in a risky neighborhood where his apartment was hidden off the main road and between a bar and a complex used by probation officers, as well as, drug rehab counselors. So, of course, most of the people who are using these areas are drunkards and drug users, among others. If this was the case, then why would Carla pass through that risky area late at night all by herself? It could be a provocative action to the people in Casey’s neighborhoods. Second, lifestyle theory relates to Carla’s case since Carla got targeted following her lifestyle that exposed her to situations where criminal actions could take place. It is not once that she went jogging alone at night passing through a bad place. Thirdly, the deviant place theory is also applicable since Carla encouraged her death by being in a bad place at the wrong time. In this case, she could lower her chance of being a victim by avoiding the risky area where the crime rate is high. Besides, she could have her boyfriend leave the neighborhood and move to a different area where the crime rate is low just for the sake of lowering Carla’s rate of victimization. Despite having all these victimization theories relating to Carla’s case, I feel that lifestyletheory is most relevant. This case is basically more of lifestyle choices made by Carla, which exposed to the criminal situations where the crime was committed. First, Carla decided to have a
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