CCJ214 Victimology Report: Crime Victim Problems and Improvements

This report, focusing on victimology, delves into the various emotional, practical, and psychological problems that crime victims commonly experience, including fear, shock, anger, and helplessness, with the severity often dependent on the type of crime. It examines the historical treatment of victims by criminal justice agencies, highlighting past shortcomings and recent complaints, such as lengthy case times and feeling blamed. The report outlines initiatives undertaken by these agencies to improve victim services, such as providing equal and compassionate treatment, informing victims of their rights, and utilizing technology for better outcome measurement. Suggestions for additional improvements include keeping victims informed, ensuring they feel safe and believed, and reforming court procedures to consider victim welfare comprehensively. The report stresses the need for speedy trials, addressing delays, and improving the overall experience within the criminal justice system.

2014CCJ / CCJ214 VICTIMOLOGY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. What types of emotional, practical and psychological problems are common among crime
victims? What is known about the fear of crime among victims?...............................................3
2. How did different criminal justice agencies treat or assist victims in the past? What
problems or complaints have some victims experienced with the criminal justice system more
recently?.......................................................................................................................................4
3. What initiatives have criminal justice agencies used to improve services to victims?............5
4. Suggestions for additional improvements...............................................................................6

1. What types of emotional, practical and psychological problems are common among crime
victims? What is known about the fear of crime among victims?
Generally victims face different experiences of crime during their victimization such as fear,
shock, anger, helplessness and others. The seriousness of problem is based on type of crime. It
can be said that, impact of crime is dependent on the character of crime. Generally, violent crime
is considered more serious crime; therefore they have more serious impacts. Emotional, practical
and psychological problems which are common among crime victims are enumerated as follows:
Emotional and Physiological problem
There are several short terms as well as long term emotional and physiological impact on the
victims who have been part of any criminal incident. If the crime is nonviolent then emotional
impact generally goes away in a quick manner. However, burglary and significant vandalism are
exceptions. Burglary means unauthorized entry into any structure with the intention to commit
offence, specifically theft. By this, individual feel not secure in a place where they have expected
excellent security and safety. It generally consists of harm of item that has significant value
which is not replaceable. Moreover, Burglary also offers idea about upcoming weaknesses
involving major violent offences. In addition to this, Post-traumatic stress disorder can also be
caused by it because of tarrying event that involves a threat to life or major injury to self or any
close person. Indications for Post-traumatic stress disorder include major anxiety, remembrance,
uncontrollable thinking, and nightmares. There are three clusters of indication, which is as
follows –
 Affective, it means feeling different from another person, or impassiveness.
 Cognitive, it means nightmares and disturbs thinking.
 Physiological, it means petulance
Moreover, the traumatic event means the event which is generally outside the experience of
people. The individuals who suffer from this can have wrong belief regarding the reason; they
may incorrectly blame on other person or on themselves. Some other common or non-common
indications are irresponsible; alcohol misusedepends on drug and others.
Fear of Crime

It has been observed that the frequency of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to violent offence
victim is more as compared to victims of natural problems. Since individual fear violent crime
more than as compared with natural disaster even if damages because of natural disaster is
equivalent to the violent crime and in reality it is more probable to happen. Fear of crime is
referred to as anxiety of being victim as contrary to the real possibility of being victim of
offence. Generally risk of offence and vulnerability is overestimated by people who have been
victim of crime. In contrary to this, people who have not been involved in crime underestimate
their risk of offence and vulnerability. In addition to this, people can manage fear of crime in
betterway that makes sense about traumatic events. Make sense involves, assumption of
personal obligations, qualities of a specific lifestyle, and ascertainment the connection of event
with religious aspect. Further, violent crime may assist in reduction of belief by victim in others
and decrease their belief that the nation is reliable, manageable, expressive, and foreseeable.
2. How did different criminal justice agencies treat or assist victims in the past? What problems
or complaints have some victims experienced with the criminal justice system more recently?
Initially, in the year 1914, it was stated by Garafolo that victim might try to an attack at any
event. After that, several authors define the role of victim in an offence. In the past, victim
generally was found not correct or challenging in some manner. Thereason behind the same is
early victimology considers only logical evidence. It can be said that empirical evidence is not
considered by them. Empirical evidence is based on some data or information which can be
measured or observed, and not only founded on the basis of logic.
At the initial time, there were no police, courts, or other parts of the criminal justice system.
Generally, victims are deals withthe family of offender or any close relatives. In other words it
can be said that criminal justice system did not have any obligations to deal with offender.
Lextalionis was the initial law which suggests about the manner in which victim and their
families were admitted to deal with victims. Babylon -1772 BC, a portion of the code of
Hammurabi “An eye for an eye”, it is interpreted by some person as a restriction to the penal
damages to the offender instead to command it. On the other hand, it was interpreted by others as
first right law of victim. In the middle time (500 to 1500 AD), other systems of rules and
regulations come into force. They explained with respect to the compensatory damages or
retribution can be availed from the victim or family of the victim, in case if “eye for an eye”

could not be removed. The main objective was to in any manner create the victim or family of
offender “Whole” again. Further, as per the rules and norms of Middle Ages Blood Feuds were
allowed, in case only if authorized reimbursement could not be completed. Moreover, at the end
of middle Ages government of state accepting their obligations. Distress started to changes from
creating the offender “Whole” to dealing with illegal. The land in the United Kingdom is
bifurcated into “Shires”, and the person in charged therewith cannot handle all essential legal
duties. Therefore, in the year 1066 place of constable was set up, and in the year 1829 initial
latest police department was set up.
In the current criminal justice system victims faces some problems, which are as below –
 It would take significant time to complete any case.
 Offenders are generally left disappointed about criminal justice system afterword.
 It assists in the reduction of income.
 They are not allowed in the courtroom.
 For offences, sometimes they are blamed.
In addition tothe above aspect, the offender also not contended with proceeding of country,
because embracement at court is just like original criminality. The feeling that it motivates
bullying. Therefore, the demands for enhanced right and facilities for crime victim.
3. What initiatives have criminal justice agencies used to improve services to victims?
Criminal justice agencies encouraged victims to notify the police. However one of the major
reasons why individuals do not file report is that the case involvement can take upto years to
finish up, victims have generally dissatisfied regarding the criminal justice afterwards, and
victims having experience give warning to their friends not to report. For this aspect, these
agencies have taken step to give response on an equal, compassionate, and respectful basis to all
victims, while protecting them from further victimization to the possible extent, and referring
victims to crises and providing supportive services after victimization. In addition to this, the
criminal justice agencies have provided a seamless continuum of services as well as support for
the victims of crimes, and have also taken effective measure to inform victim about their
individual rights and the overall timing the justice system takes to process. Although, some of
the victim service providers have embraced technologies which can improvise aspects of

outcome measurement and campaign evaluation, plus they have also determined challenges and
issues related to client privacy and security, especially.
For improving the services to victims, the criminal justice system had introduced the victim’s
movement, which was specially established to satisfy the victims, wherein rights were increased,
and services were expanded for the crime victims. This entire movement was liable for victim
compensation acts, compulsory reporting of suspected child abuse, compulsory arrest of violent
offenders, restrictions on the questioning of victims at the time of legal proceedings and the
option to show a statement in court regarding how the offence has impacted them. In addition,
for improvising services, a Victim impact statement was also introduced aiming to eliminate
victim dissatisfaction, making the court aware of the victim’s harm and aiding with victim
rehabilitation. It can be noticed that, with this step of criminal justice agencies, the positive
effects have resulted in the form of satisfaction of 45-82% victims from the presentation of VIS
and majority of them giving the VIS again. By considering the low voice victims place, criminal
justice agencies have empowered them to take participation in the case processing, while easing
the scheduling, investigation, court as well as post-sentence proceeding to aid effective victim
participation. Furthermore, the criminal justice agencies have also ensured stability of advocacy
services and started focusing on repairing the damage done by crime. The overall satisfaction of
victim is based on the offence type, if or if not the arrest is made, the result of the case and how
the criminal justice system provides treatment to the victim. Hence, on the basis of same,
criminal justice agencies have attempted to keep the victims involved and keep them informed at
the greatest extent possible. The CJ agencies have also given contribution to provide notification
to victims of changes in status of offender and motivating victims to tell their stories while
listening to them cautiously. Moreover, these agencies have also provided opportunities that
allow victims to aid their other victims and to deliver a better justice system.
4. Suggestions for additional improvements
For further improvements, it is essential that the criminal justice system, agencies and
government keep the victim informed about the case, and it is important that they are believed,
felt safe, not blamed for the offence and are kept fully understood for the court and investigative
process. It is therefore significant that courts consider reforms in terms of consideration of
victim welfare as a whole, and considering evidence-based on video, CCTV and intermediaries

to make the process of evidence giving easier. In addition to this, it is vital that courts consider
reforms in context with rules regarding what details are admissible, for example sexual history
often admissible in the cases of sexual assault. Since it has been recognized by the government
that the influence of victimization is lasting and for most of the victims, it can be even life-
changing. If the victim’s experience in the CJ process is to be improvised, there must be better
interpretation of the influence of victimization and of the requirement to give treatment victims
of crime with sensitivity, courtesy, dignity and compassion. There must be stable progress in
raising awareness and extending information services and aid to victims of crime. There should
also be improvements made to the CJ system to give remedy to the problems such as: at time
defendants have to give too long time in awaiting trial, it is not always clear if or if not a decision
not to prosecute is defensible, at time after the judgment has been provided in a case is conducted
out much lately, or even not at all. By considering overall course material and above evaluation,
the major issues faced by victims are excessive delay in judgment, fear of post scenario and
threat by criminals, loopholes in system. In order to cope with the issues following
recommendations can be considered for overall consideration:
 Speedy trials: It is essential that criminal cases could be handled in a more quick way, it
is because if the victims spend too much time on awaiting trial and still their case is not
solved then they lose hope and suffer. Therefore, it is recommended to the system to ease
their trails and make quick and reasonable decisions, by considering the stories of victims
and being unbiased and the process for lodging a criminal complaint must be made easier
with more concerns for victims. The challenge faced in this initiative by the criminal
justice would be setting coordination among activities, taking proper evidence and proofs
into account to reach a quick decision and making proper decision thereof.
 Complete solution by considering post-decision as well: It is really significant that
criminal cases should be completed successfully, the police, as well as the Public
Prosecution Service, is required to make precise agreement regarding which case justify
extra attention. It is vital that such programs and initiatives must be placed for the
financially dependent victims so that they can earn a living after the victimization, in
addition to this, proper treatment, therapy and consulting session should be provided to
the victim after post-decision so that they can lead a better life.