South University CRJ3024: Victimization Risk Analysis - Week 2 Project

This assignment delves into the concept of victimization, examining how individual choices and routines can increase the risk of becoming a victim of crime. The paper analyzes the case of Mary Lou Jones, evaluating her daily activities to identify the most and least vulnerable aspects that could contribute to a theft. It explores key theories of victimization, including Routine Activities Theory, Lifestyle Theory, and Rational Choice Theory, to understand the underlying factors influencing crime. The analysis emphasizes the importance of considering changes in lifestyle to mitigate victimization risks. Furthermore, the assignment addresses the benefits of involving students in the analysis team to identify crime patterns, particularly in cases of theft and bullying within a school setting. The paper also discusses the value of a diversified team structure for victim measurement and assessment, highlighting how varied perspectives can enhance the handling of criminal cases. The assignment concludes by referencing relevant academic sources to support the analysis of victimization and its complexities.

Victimology

Victimization is direct response to the aftermath of crime. This result as a consequence of any
crime, tortuous or unethical act. There are several factors, by which the possibility of the crime
can be increased (Walklate, 2017). These factors are; behavior of individual, selection of
lifestyle, and way in conducting daily activities that leads to easy target for victimization.
Therefore the choice of individuals of their lifestyle is significant factor that lead to
victimization.
From the above mentioned activities of Mary Lou Jone, leaving for work for the same time, each
day from the same location is the most vulnerable factor, because offender could easily target the
property by observing their schedule. Further, leaving a specific light on in the home each
evening is the least possible factor that can contribute the crime, even this activity suggest about
presence of someone at the home.
There are several elements that participate to the vulnerability of victimization. In this aspect,
Routine activities theory, sometimes leads in a vulnerable situation. This theory is formed on
behavioral aspect of person and existence of the conditional elements in crime (Arntfield, 2015).
Further, it also states occurrence of crime is based on following conditions–
 There is presence of probable offender, who wants to compel the offence.
 There is existence of the weakness and objective such as property or may be person.
 There is absence of safeguarding the property.
The next theory of victimization is life style theory. This theory indicates that, criminal activity
can take place on the basis of life style choices of individual. For example lavish lifestyle
without due diligence leads to higher risk of victimization (McDonald, 2018).

Another theory of victimization is the rational theory, which suggest that criminal activity is the
choice of person and it is the outcome of their decision making capability.
From the above prescribed theories, routine activities theory is the best theory of victimization
because it suggests the impact on the crime and victimization due to changes in economic and
ethical conditions of individuals.
Yes, including student in the analysis team is beneficial for identification of criminal because the
person who is directly impacted by the victimization is capable to explain the issues related with
it in a better manner. By considering this, the analysis team can make the plans and policies to
deal with such issues in an effective manner.
Sexual harassment, rape, stealing, theft, serious beating, physical fight, damaged or threatened
with the weapon are some of the patterns of victimization in the recent thefts. Further, with
respect to Bullying, students are also forced to do some work, which they do not want (Spencer,
2015).
Yes, the diversified team structure feasible for determining victim measurement and assessment.
If team members belong to the distinct backgrounds, then they will be capable of thinking in a
different manner. All the criminal cases has some different conditions, therefore by considering
the different viewpoints of experts who are connected with different fields will assist in handling
case in a better way (Mythen, & McGowan, 2017).

REFERENCES
Arntfield, M. (2015). Towards a cybervictimology: Cyberbullying, routine activities theory, and
the anti-sociality of social media. Canadian Journal of Communication, 40(3).
McDonald, W. F. (2018). Theories of Criminal Victimization. In The Criminal Victimization of
Immigrants (pp. 11-28). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Mythen, G., & McGowan, W. (2017). Cultural victimology revisited: Synergies of risk, fear and
resilience. In Handbook of Victims and Victimology (pp. 364-378). Routledge.
Spencer, D. C. (2015). Corporeal realism and victimology. International review of
victimology, 21(1), 31-44.
Walklate, S. (2017). Victims and Victimology. The Wiley
‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social
Theory, 1(1). 1-2.