Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention by 
Domestic Violence Sourcebook by 
Cyberpredators by 
Sexual Homicide by Statistical databases used to report crimes, victimization, and resources for victims:
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
National Census of Victim Service Providers (NCVSP)
Victimology is the study of victim or victims of a particular offender. It portrays victims, offenders, and society through the victim's perspective. In this course students will learn about the following topics:
History of Victimology Justice System
Measurements of Crime and Their Effects Consequences of Victimization
Victim Advocacy Homicide Victim
Sexual Victimization Intimate Partner Abuse
Child Abuse Elder Victims
Hate Crimes Special Victim Populations
Negligence and Intentional Torts Victim Impact Statements
Constitutional and Civil rights of Victims
Compensation and Restitution of Victims
In order to study Victimology, you must first understanding how our modern criminal law system works and what can be defined as a criminal act.
In early days, primitive laws were established as the first system of rules. Primitive laws contained three premises: acts that injured others were considered private wrongs, the injured party could take action against the wrongdoer, and this action usually amounted to revenge or blood feuds as a way to make victims whole.
The code of Hammurabi is considered the first known attempt to establish written code of conduct. The Code of Hammurabi established a list of acts considered criminal, gave instructions for individuals within society and ethical codes. This established the beginning of state-administered punishments and equity between the offender and the victim.
Some other notable codes and laws were the Mosaic Code, the Twelve Tables, Stare Decisis, and Common Law. these laws helped shape the development of modern American Law.
The Magna Carta of England and the U.S. Constitution are great documents that established rights to individuals. Magna Carta established basic liberties for England and The U.S. Constitution established certain individual rights, defined by the federal government and limited punishment for violations of law.
The main sources of American law are:
Common Law
Written statutes.
U.S Constitution
Feminist Movement: alerted to various crimes against women. Resulted in the establishment of raped crisis centers and what is known today as the Department of Health and Human Services
Civil Rights Movement: Established constitutional rights to each and every individual. Established constitutional safeguards for accusers of a crime.
Changes in societies views of Crime and Punishment: Society in the 1980's and 1990's became conservative and concerned with crime. People wanted changes in the criminal justice system. Victim's right movements were gaining popularity. Imprisoning offenders was seen as a way to vindicate the victim.
The civil Law system includes all actions not deemed criminal in nature. Victims pursue civil suits in order to get redress, satisfaction not received by criminal proceedings, punishment of wrongdoer may not be what the victim believed was proper or they feel mistreated by the criminal justice system and what more control of the proceedings.
Civil court process:
Filing a complaint
Filing a response
pretrial: motions, discovery, depositions, interrogatories, documents
Trial
Verdict
Judgment
Types of crimes that Involve victims:
Homicides:
Murder: The willful killing of one human being by another
Significant partner homicide: killing of one's significant other
Parricide: killing of one's parents
Mass murders: kill several people at one time within the same location
Spree Killers: killing of several people at two or more locations with little time in between
Serial Murderer: one who kills several people over a period of time that can range from weeks to years
Victim precipitation studied by Marvin E Wolfgang: victim and perpetrator usually had some sort of prior relationship, events leading up to homicide started as small disagreement that escalated, and alcohol was used.
Sexual Crimes:
marital rape: unlawful sexual intercourse with a spouse or ex-spouse against his or her will by means of force or fear.
Acquaintance rape: unlawful sexual intercourse accomplished by force or by fear with a person known to the victim who is not related by blood or marriage.
Sexual violence: any intentional act or omission that results in physical, emotional, or financial injury in a sexual context to a women or man.
Stalking
Sexual harassment
Intimate Partner abuse: When one person in a relationship purposely hurts another person physically or emotionally.
Child Abuse: when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child.
There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse.
Elder abuse: Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, or sexual harm inflicted upon an older adult, their financial exploitation, or neglect of their welfare by people who are directly responsible for their care.
Hate crimes: criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.
Crimes against people in special populations: crimes against those who are vulnerable for instance those who have disabilities.
Types of physical injuries to victims of a crime:
Immediate injuries
Injuries that leave visible scars
Unknown long-term injuries
Long-term catastrophic injuries
Medical Aspects:
Gunshot wounds, stab wounds, Burns, and trauma to head
Mental Aspects:
Crisis stages: impact stage, the recoil stage, reorganization stage
Acute stress disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Depression
Substance abuse
Financial Aspect:
Tangible losses: medical bills, taxes, loss wages, police and fire services
Intangible losses: value on quality of life after crime
