Victimology: Crime Prevention Strategies and Theories

This report delves into the field of victimology, focusing on crime prevention strategies and theoretical frameworks. It discusses the importance of community-based initiatives, such as awareness programs, in reducing crime rates, particularly property-related offenses. The report highlights the routine activity theory, explaining how the convergence of motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of capable guardians contributes to victimization. It further explains how crime rates are calculated and the significance of the 'dark figure of crime,' which refers to unreported crimes. The report emphasizes the need for platforms to report crimes, particularly those affecting vulnerable groups, to effectively combat and prevent such offenses.

Running head: VICTIMOLOGY
Victimology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1VICTIMOLOGY
Property related crimes occur every 3.5 seconds in United States. As provided by --- one
of the best crime prevention strategies which can be used to reduce crime and subsequently
victimization in the society are community crime prevention strategies. These strategies include
awareness programs by educating the age groups which are most associated with the criminal
activity (Spalek, 2016). The strategies can involve providing the community with adequate
knowledge in relation to the crime such as its consequences and on the criminal and its effects on
the victim. The strategies can also involve restricting access to the crime prone areas at night
when the crime rate is high. Particularly in relation to property related crime the strategy is more
useful. Property related crime can be prevented by education, improvements and organization. If
the community organizes itself to help everyone together crime can be reduced to a huge extent.
Personal education as well as educating the neighbors can also reduce crime. Providing a safe
place for everyone by improving the neighborhood is also a good way to reduce property related
crimes (Zaykowski & Campagna, 2014).
The most relevant theory applicable to this scenario is the routine activity theory. According to
the theory the routine of different individuals lead to victimization. These include the presence of
suitable targets, capable guardians not being present and motivated offenders being present. As
per the theory one or more of these factors being present increases the risk of victimization. For
instance if a person leaves home during vacation suitable targets are created for the criminals. In
the same way leaving home during vacation in urban areas where the number of motivated
offenders are high create greater risk of victimization. A community where involvement,
organization and education is present guardianship is created and thus victimization is reduced
along with the crime rates as per this theory.

2VICTIMOLOGY
There are certain conceptual formulas to determine crime rates. Through a crime rate the number
of reported crime to a agency which enforces law with respect to every 100000 people of the
population. The calculation of the crime rate is done by dividing the total reported crimes by the
total number of population. The result is then multiplied by 100000 (Daigle, 2017). For instance
in 2015 the reported theft in a particular place was 43234 and the population was 32324432 than
the robbery crime rate would be 133.4.
A dark figure of crime is a term which is used by sociologist and criminologist in order to
describe crime which has been undiscovered and unreported (Camp, 2017). There are various
crimes which are unreported in Canada or even worse are not undiscovered. These type of crimes
have more drastic effect on the society as the criminal escapes punishment and is provided with
increased motivation to commit the crime again. Crime against women and domestic violence
crime are among the most which are not reported in Canada and therefore the rate of these
crimes in the country is increasing. These crimes can only be prevented if a proper platform is set
in order to report such crimes.

3VICTIMOLOGY
References
Camp, T. V. (2017). Book review: A companion to crime, harm & victimisation.
Daigle, L. E. (2017). Victimology: the essentials. Sage Publications.
Spalek, B. (2016). Crime victims: Theory, policy and practice. Palgrave Macmillan.
Zaykowski, H., & Campagna, L. (2014). Teaching theories of victimology. Journal of Criminal
Justice Education, 25(4), 452-467.