theoretical victimology

Theoretical Victimology

Lecture to the 29th Postgraduate Course in Victimology

Inter University Center Dubrovnik 13 to 26 May 2013

byGerd Ferdinand Kirchhoff

Graduate School of VictimologyTokiwa University Mito Japan

Victimology implies something theoretical that fifty years ago plainly did not exist. Fourty years ago, it was seen as a

“hodgepodge of ideas, interests, ideologies and research methods that have been rather arbitrarily grouped (Cressey 1979 and 1985)

Fattah 2000Distinguishes between

“humanistic victimology” (represented by the victim assistance community) “scientific victimology” which for him was part of criminology

Territorial dug in war

Why did the criminologists have these difficulties in accepting victimology as an independent new science?

The fight for recognition of criminology as a distinct scienceinterest driven:a competitor on the fight for grants must be controlledcriminology qua criminology did nothing for the victimsin the past, victim ideas have been pretty much connected with social democratic ideas

LombrosoFerri, Garofalothat did not fit into a subconsciously capitalistic criminology which had its own struggles to be acceptedSutherland and Chicago School“victim identity” thinking of criminologists – not a good term!

Two new things happen:

1. Hans von Hentig introduces into criminology a clearly interactionalist element: the interaction between doer and sufferer - clearly in the interest of social control and of improving criminologyThe new perspective does not have an own territory Followers of von Hentig like Schafer place victimology clearly in the field of criminologyWolfgang was never explicitly decided but favored a look to victim issues “Special Victimology”There were no chairs, no grants, and there was no future in this field -> criminology had occupied the seats and the key position

2. Mendelsohn “General victimology”.Mendelsohn’s (mostly) formal ingredients”” of a science

all victimsan international society of victimology

clearly a scientific organization– the new kid on the block”

» concerns of criminologists» concerns of sociologists» concerns of practitioners» 1976 Foundation of NOVA and 1979 Victim

Support UK» victims are our property!

Development of two fields

Theoretical VictimologyAdmittedly very conservative and cautious

Field of Victim AssistanceVery dynamic, full of enthusiasm, passionate claim for victims and against the neglect of victims in the criminal justice system

A highly interesting social movement, Under the header “victims” strange bedfellows meet!

1985 Hans von Hentig Award to Marlene Young

bridge between victimology and victim assistance, especially demanded by the influential American EC members who were personal friends of Marlene

difficult to maintain the separation between victim assistance and victimology

– in victimology, victim assistance is included– consequences– sympathy between practitioners and scientists

1985 very successful UN Declaration on Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (created from within WSV by Irvin Waller and LeRoy Lamborn in connection with Irene Mellup from the UN. Takeover and implementation of victim orientation in a criminal justice system by (South Australia, Labor) Chris Sumner

continued by followers, now the first Victim Commissioner Michael O’Connell

l

Elections to the EC reflected the stand-offish attitude of scientists and the willingness of activists to move the cause internationallyextreme skilled leadership in USA, UK and MexicoPeak of influence of activists in 2006 “Enhancing the Mission”

Mendelsohn 2

International Symposia1973 Drapkin-Viano 6 readers1976 Boston no reader1979 Muenster 2 readers and 1 book in German1982 Tokyo 1 reader1985 Zagreb 1book, two readers1988 Jerusalem 1 reader1991 Brazil 4 readers, 1 book series1994 Adelaide 1 reader1997 Amsterdam 1 reader2000 Montreal 1 reader2003 Stellenbosch 1 reader in print2006 Orlando 1 reader2009 Mito 1 reader2012 Den Haag 1 reader

Mendelsohn 3

Institutes of Victimology(1968 - 1992 Koichi Miyazawa’s institute in Keio, Tokyo, Japan)Bellagio Institute 1975 (Emilio Viano)1998 Sarajevo (WSV and University of Sarajevo, dormant)2003 Tokiwa University (Hidemichi Morosawa, John Dussich)2004 Intervict in University of Tilburg (Groenhuijsen, van Dijk, Winkel)Today many institutes (WSV website)

Mendelsohn 4

Journal of Victimology1976 Emilio Viano’s “Victimology - an international journal”NOVA’s Newsletter, WSV Newsletter 1982, The Victimologist International Review of Victimology UKInternational Perspectives of Victimology (Tokiwa) since 2004numerous other special journals

Formal requirement 5

Textbooksnumerous textbooks, the first in 1975 Schneider (in German language)mainly English language textbooks

market situation a clear advantagetailored to the need of the teaching and learning and refined by competitiondriven by the growing market in victim assistancean abundance of monographsFriday 2000 talks about “globalization” in victimology -

That has clear advantagesMany excellent and very often very useful empirical contributionstriggered by the success of the National US Crime Victim Surveys and the International Crime Victim Survey gave a method to measure victimizing incidents independently from crime statisticsThere is a wealth of empirical data, articles and monographs

Development of academic teachingAll the efforts would be in vain if victimology did not enter the classrooms of the universityRegular teaching in victimology started in sociology seminars, in criminology classes in the seventies.In the same time regular classes were held usually after the Bellagio Institute 1975 by participants1984 the first Postgraduate Course on Victimology convened in Dubrovnik, Croatia - till now 29 conferences of this course 1985 the first panel “Young Victimologists” in Zagreb with students 1994 in Adelaide, Hauber, Kirchhoff and O’Connell convened workshop on “Teaching Victimology” (basically three curricular and critique of them) overcrowded2000 Teaching Victimology : 80 participants demanded from WSV to develop a curriciences (culum. No doubt, victimology had entered the classrooms2003 Tokiwa University Mito Master in Victimology2003 PhD in Human Sciences Subfield Victimology 2012 Tilburg University Master in Victimology and Criminal Justice2013 PhD Victimology Tokiwa University

Fattah 1998

All in all,victimology is no longer a subject ofbewilderment or curiosity but is slowlybecoming a household name. This is beingfacilitated by the extensive coverage that crimenews and victim issues are receiving in themass media; by the wide publicity victims’programs are getting and by theproliferation of victim services and victimassistance programs in many countries(Fattah: http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/PDF_rms/no56/56-06.pdfretrieved on May 3, 2007).

http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/pdf/PDF_rms/no56/56-06.pdf

Courses are given in tandem with the symposia (Rio 1991, Amsterdam 1997, Montreal 2000, Stellenbosch 2003, Orlando 2006, Mito 2009) - independent from WSV by Fattah and Peters Courses in the CanariesNumerous universities have lectures and seminars in victimologyNumerous professional courses and training academies developed for practitioners in victim assistancethe need to train volunteersexcellent training material in USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canadafrom 1995 on the National Victim Assistance Academy funded by the Office of Crime Victims, Office of Justice Program, US Department of JusticeSpecial faculties for the study and practice of Traumatic Stress Studies - e.g. University of Charleston, South CarolinaSouth America: Hilda Marchiori, Elias Neuman, Manzanera and others in INACIPE Mexico with the first master degree constituted

Problem of finding a “home faculty” for a study that draws from sociology, psychology, medicine, social work, political science, criminology and law, especially criminal law and criminal procedure.Integrating knowledge from so many faculties, the field has no own single unifying theoryThis is a reason that it is not regarded as a science - but it behaves like a science.and it is more an more accepted as such.

Master Study in Victimology e.g.in Tokiwa University JapanIn Tilburg University Netherlands

Doctor Programs e.g. in Tokiwa UniversityIn Tilburg University

Fattah on Victimology

Fattah: the primary task of theoretical victimology is to collect empirical data on crime victims. This is done by victim surveys. It is not yet clear what these surveys measure. Are the surveys designed to measure crime or victimization? Are they meant to measure criminal victimizations that meet the criteria set by the criminal code? or are they meant to measure subjective victimizations experienced by the respondents. These are different realities.

Fattah on Victimology

From here, he unfolds the different theoretical models that have led to various theoretical formulations:

- Lifestyle Modela simple and logical extension of the medical concept into the social sphere: smoking, sedentary way of life, aids and eating increase health risks.

Routine Activity ApproachOpportunity Models

L and RA brings potential victims together with motivated offenders (proximity, attractiveness and exposure) or direct differential opportunities.This is the model that Fattah favors:

Fattah then describes a flurry of victim legislation, victim compensation, offender restitution and victim services.

Information from the sociology of social movements

Scientists form an interest group (Berger and Luckmann 1986). They are interest driven.

interests are formed by invested “capital”by scientific convictions certainly,by interest in being fundedby an interest of being acknowledged by peers and students and “followers”

Theories - the special tools in the competition and identity markets - are validated more by social support than by empirical evidence.

The intensity of support determines the ultimate success of this interest group - like any other interest group - in their efforts to promote a cause, a problem, a science.

Scientific theories in any field of science are a kind of social construction of reality. This is not different in social science, here: in victimology.

Positivist, radical or critical versions of victimology (identified by Mawby and Walklate 1994) are just different competing constructions in victimology.Individuals and interest groups construct and generate social problems out of their interests, whether there are data in objective reality that justify this or not.

Data can be produced ad libidum and ad nauseam!That does not change the fact that scientists are interest driven. Special knowledge is formulated and administered by specialists whose social prestiges depend on their special ability to teach, to write, to do research, to distribute resources, occupy the media.To avoid their dictatorship, it is needed to keep the connection to victim assistance.

Maus (1975) developed a convincing model that explains how society in general reacts towards the “new kids on the block”Victimology was received by the relevant existing groups - the publics in criminal law, criminology, social sciences generally and by the stakeholders in the status quo - exactly in the same way society deals with new social movements.Techniques include

overlookingrejection

ridicule “feel free to call it victimology!”outright fanatic oppositionattacks

cooptationthat is nothing newwe embrace the efforts fully

recognition

This recognition is dangerous:only if there is enough disquieting noise and unrest, the stakeholders of the traditional way of thinking (or the existing social order) will listen and finally will react.

These reactions are applauded by the outer circle and often by the inner circle as well. Then the problem is solved.

Dangerous moment: The resounding body is leaving the movement and turns to other goals (e.g. crime prevention, restorative justice or transformative justice) the inner circle of “true believers” “the activists” “the hard core” is still dissatisfied and continues the fight.

Observations:1985 UN Declaration

There are many examplesNils Christie brought a practical development in victim offender mediation to the theoretical point: horizontal or vertical justice? The systems often adopted horizontal elements.Participation of victims:

full fledged participationor fake participation:

– in Japan very new reform– victim impact statements– mediation, victim offender reconciliation– victim assistance organizations:

» in Germany it is very difficult to introduce new measures “for victims” that are not supported by the greatest victim organization Weisser Ring.

Observations on theoretical victimology

Victimology is the social science of victims, of victimizations and of the reactions toward both, towards victimization and towards victims.

Is victimology the same as the contributions of other science towards victimology?

especially in the first period of academic teaching, the field depends on scientists from various other disciplines who lecture about the contributions of their home faculties to the emerging field. Is victimology more than the sum of contributions of other sciences?

Structure of Victimology

1. Social Science of Victims

Who are the victims in victimology?3 kinds of victims have been discussed

Victims of crimeVictims of “everything”Victims of Human Rights violations including crime

The measurement of victims

Of course we want to know “how many are out there?”› Victim Survey› A general question: › From what do we know how many crimes are “out

there”? Police statistics Self reports of actors Self reports of victims These systematically collected self reports are called Victim

Surveys.› Big advantage:

We can ask other things, What goes hand in hand with victimization?

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Victims have experienced damage

I did not want to talk about crimes but about victims.

Typical for the victim is:They have experienced a damage

An emotional damageA physical damageA financial damage

– Social damage? Damage in reputation? Is this an own category? Where does this belong?

That is very important to keep in mind: this triangle describes a victim very well. For analytical purposes we have to keep these dimensions apart:

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Social Science of Victimsof Victimizations

Two perceptions of victimization1. the static one2. a more dynamic one

Victimizations

Victimology is the social science of 1. victims2. of victimizations

2.1. as a process2.2 the damage the victim has experienced 2.3. the process of becoming a victim: victimizations as invasions into the self

Victimization as a process

The next concept:victimizations.Victimization means a process: the process of

becoming a victim.sometimes very shortsometimes long and escalatingit is a social process of becoming a

victim social definitions that prepare the victim for its demise: e.g. victims of genocide

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Victimization

The static modelThe three dimensions of damage

– Emotional damage (including social damage)– Physical damage– Financial damage

Useful for analytical purposesA little bit simpleWe know that it is “artificial”

The dynamic model37

23/04/2223/04/22Prof. Dr.jur. Gerd Ferdinand Prof. Dr.jur. Gerd Ferdinand

KirchhoffKirchhoff3838

Definition of a victimization as Definition of a victimization as processprocess

Victimizations are Victimizations are Invasions into the Self of the VictimInvasions into the Self of the Victim

In this definition, we seeIn this definition, we seea certain model of a person a certain model of a person There is a self, which can be invaded There is a self, which can be invaded (Painting)(Painting)Invasion means a certain penetration from Invasion means a certain penetration from outsideoutsidethere is something around the “self”there is something around the “self”There is a kernelThere is a kernelThat we are going to explore a little bit more That we are going to explore a little bit more in detailin detail


KirchhoffKirchhoff 3939

TheThe Self … and the layersSelf … and the layers

Imagine an onionImagine an onionHere is the outer peelHere is the outer peel

Brown and toughBrown and toughRemove it: you come to more tender partsRemove it: you come to more tender parts

– Parts which never have seen the sunParts which never have seen the sun– Parts which are softerParts which are softer– The deeper you go, the softer is the materialThe deeper you go, the softer is the material– The softer, the more sensitive to intrusionsThe softer, the more sensitive to intrusions– The more sensitive, the easier it is to intrudeThe more sensitive, the easier it is to intrude– The less protected, the more pain is produced by The less protected, the more pain is produced by

intrusionsintrusions– In the center of the onion, there is the real SelfIn the center of the onion, there is the real Self



The self and the layersThe self and the layers Victimizations are Invasions into the Victimizations are Invasions into the

Self of the VictimSelf of the Victim› You win a feeling for a rank order of You win a feeling for a rank order of

victimizationsvictimizations According to their severityAccording to their severity Severity is represented by the deepness of the Severity is represented by the deepness of the

invasion into this modelinvasion into this model› Victimizations on the surface are light and Victimizations on the surface are light and

easyeasy Intensity 1rst degreeIntensity 1rst degree Loss of non valuable cheap mass productsLoss of non valuable cheap mass products Different: emotionally loaden itemsDifferent: emotionally loaden items



Intensity 2Intensity 2ndnd degree degree The case of theft of an inherited ring The case of theft of an inherited ring

of motherof mother The case of burglaryThe case of burglary

› Feeling of invasion of privacyFeeling of invasion of privacy› Feeling of shattered securityFeeling of shattered security› Feeling of loss of propertyFeeling of loss of property

Reactions:Reactions: Fear, Panic attacksFear, Panic attacks SleeplessnessSleeplessness HeadacheHeadache



Invasions: Intensity 3Invasions: Intensity 3rdrd degree degree Imagine Street RobberyImagine Street Robbery

› First you do not believe what happensFirst you do not believe what happens This is a joke!This is a joke!

› Then: panic, anger, nervousnessThen: panic, anger, nervousness› Rage that nobody comes and helpsRage that nobody comes and helps› Loss of ability to evaluate social situations Loss of ability to evaluate social situations

properlyproperly› Loss of physical integrityLoss of physical integrity› Loss of propertyLoss of property› Sadness that nothing is like it was beforeSadness that nothing is like it was before› Insecurity!Insecurity!



Intensity 4rth degreeIntensity 4rth degree

Sexual victimizationSexual victimization› In human interactions, everyone sends In human interactions, everyone sends

and receives signals of sexual contentand receives signals of sexual content This happens all the timeThis happens all the time But:But:

we believe that is only so we believe that is only so in moments where we want this to happenin moments where we want this to happen In moments where we are aware of thisIn moments where we are aware of this

› Sex offenders grab us exactly at this Sex offenders grab us exactly at this spot of our personalityspot of our personality



Intensity fourth degreeIntensity fourth degree Sexual VictimizationSexual Victimization

› Destruction of identityDestruction of identity You lived protected in yourselfYou lived protected in yourself

Now you feel open to the grabbing invasions of everybodyNow you feel open to the grabbing invasions of everybody You feel unprotectedYou feel unprotected You feel insecure and you panicYou feel insecure and you panic

You thought you could You thought you could determinedetermine yourself what happens yourself what happens with youwith you

Now you feel that you are powerlessNow you feel that you are powerless You have no autonomyYou have no autonomy

You felt you were a person with its own dignity and worthYou felt you were a person with its own dignity and worth Now you feel invaded by someone who wears dirty shoes and Now you feel invaded by someone who wears dirty shoes and

who has muddy handswho has muddy hands Your self esteem is destroyedYour self esteem is destroyed



Can you live with such a feeling about Can you live with such a feeling about you and your life?you and your life?› NoNo› Life-preserving fictions are destroyedLife-preserving fictions are destroyed› These fictions are like a shield around These fictions are like a shield around

youyou› Now you are forced to live without the Now you are forced to live without the

protection of these believesprotection of these believes› This is completely unknown to youThis is completely unknown to you

You feel naked among wolves!You feel naked among wolves!

Victimizations

Victimology is the social science 1. of victims2. of victimizations

2.1. the damage the victim has experienced 2.2. the process of becoming a victim: victimizations as invasions into the self

3. and of reactions towards both3.1 informal reactions of the victim : crisis and crisis reactions3.2 informal reactions of the social environment

3.3.1 secondary victimization3.3.2 crises and intervention



Invasions cause CrisisInvasions cause Crisis These invasions cause crisisThese invasions cause crisis

› Crisis is an escalating feeling of insecurityCrisis is an escalating feeling of insecurity› It is triggered by the experienceIt is triggered by the experience

That the normally available powers to handle insecuritiesThat the normally available powers to handle insecurities are blockedare blocked

They do not functionThey do not function They are goneThey are gone You are frozenYou are frozen

› This experience makes the fear biggerThis experience makes the fear bigger› In an escalating spiral this feeling becomes In an escalating spiral this feeling becomes

unbearableunbearable› It explodes into a reactionIt explodes into a reaction



Crisis ReactionsCrisis Reactions Reactions can be Reactions can be

› Very silentVery silent Sadness - Depressions - Mood DisordersSadness - Depressions - Mood Disorders It closes your mouth - You say nothingIt closes your mouth - You say nothing

› Very dramaticVery dramatic Very expressiveVery expressive Very loudVery loud Crying and uncontrolled reactionsCrying and uncontrolled reactions

› Immediately ….. or delayedImmediately ….. or delayed› Culturally determinedCulturally determined



HelplessnessHelplessness Feeling of chaos and being without orientationFeeling of chaos and being without orientation Rage and anger Rage and anger

› that this happened to methat this happened to me› that no one helped methat no one helped me

Disappointment about familyDisappointment about family› Isn’t he supposed to protect me?Isn’t he supposed to protect me?› Why did they leave me alone in such a decisive Why did they leave me alone in such a decisive

moment ?moment ? Anger about the offenderAnger about the offender

› That he was so unashamed to treat me like this!That he was so unashamed to treat me like this!



I will never be able to feel safe again!I will never be able to feel safe again! I can trust nobodyI can trust nobody

› In the decisive moment, they disappearIn the decisive moment, they disappear I feel guiltyI feel guilty

› If I had not behaved like this…..If I had not behaved like this…..› My contributive behavior (behavior attribution)My contributive behavior (behavior attribution)› This is me, my character (character attribution)This is me, my character (character attribution)

I feel ashamedI feel ashamed› My value is damagedMy value is damaged› What will the family say about me? What will What will the family say about me? What will

the friends say? My colleagues?the friends say? My colleagues?



Crisis is so escalating that it calls for an endCrisis is so escalating that it calls for an end People cannot life in crisisPeople cannot life in crisis We are reliant to live in a meaningful worldWe are reliant to live in a meaningful world We cannot live without meaningWe cannot live without meaning

› Dangerous:Dangerous:› Victim can often not find out of this situation Victim can often not find out of this situation

without damaging himself without damaging himself Suicide, despair, mental breakdownSuicide, despair, mental breakdown Retreatism: no contact, loneliness, feeling to get crazy Retreatism: no contact, loneliness, feeling to get crazy Self blameSelf blame



REPEAT VICTIMIZATIONREPEAT VICTIMIZATION ONE TIME VICTIMIZATIONONE TIME VICTIMIZATION

› Imagine that this all happens after the first timeImagine that this all happens after the first time REPEAT VICTIMIZATIONREPEAT VICTIMIZATION

› means that victims get victimized more than oncemeans that victims get victimized more than once› By the same kind of victimizationBy the same kind of victimization

If you are victimized a second time but by another kind of If you are victimized a second time but by another kind of victimization, we call this MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATION victimization, we call this MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATION

Once you shift your attention to multiple victimization, Once you shift your attention to multiple victimization, you find that very many victimizations are repeat you find that very many victimizations are repeat victimizationsvictimizations BurglaryBurglary Child beatingChild beating Domestic violenceDomestic violence Sexual exploitationSexual exploitation Labor exploitationLabor exploitation

Victimizations

Victimology is the social science 1. of victims2. of victimizations

2.1. the damage the victim has experienced 2.2. the process of becoming a victim: victimizations as invasions into the self

3. of reactions towards both3.1 reactions of the victim: crisis and crisis reactions3.2 reactions of the social environment

Secondary VictimizationsDamaging reactions of the immediate or wider social environment

Immediate: parents, siblings, husbands, wifes, childrenWider: neighborhood, colleagues in the workplace, schoolmates, teachers, Institutions and those working in them: policemen, nurses, physicians, telephone crisis volunteers, victim assistance workers, therapists and physiciansSecondary victimization makes us especially angry if it happens by people who officially are said to exist to help the victim.Avoidance of secondary victimization is the first aim in victim assistance - an important and very rewarding field.



What to do now?What to do now?

Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention› Someone from outside steps in betweenSomeone from outside steps in between› And tries to interrupt the fruitless self And tries to interrupt the fruitless self

dialog within the victimdialog within the victim› By being together with the victimBy being together with the victim› By communicating with the victimBy communicating with the victim

VerballyVerbally Non verballyNon verbally



Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention 1. Listening, 1. Listening,

› ListeningListening ListeningListening

Listening Listening Listening Listening Victims have to express their emotionsVictims have to express their emotionsThey do this often very intenseThey do this often very intenseThey do it over and over againThey do it over and over againThey are like crying peopleThey are like crying people

crying people can not listen to what is saidcrying people can not listen to what is saidtherefore:therefore:listen, do not talk, except communicate: you listen, do not talk, except communicate: you are not alone! are not alone!



Crisis Intervention Crisis Intervention 22

2. 2. Work on the emotional stabilization of the Work on the emotional stabilization of the

victimvictim› Principle: you are not alonePrinciple: you are not alone› Principle: you are safe now…..Principle: you are safe now…..› Let the victim get more calmLet the victim get more calm

That goes often hand in hand with tellingThat goes often hand in hand with telling Telling means: Telling means:

to put something outsideto put something outside To be able to listen to itTo be able to listen to it To be able to look at itTo be able to look at it



Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention 33

› What has to be done now?What has to be done now? Let the victim find out alternatives what to doLet the victim find out alternatives what to do Assist in stock takingAssist in stock taking Do not judgeDo not judge Do not directDo not direct Do not orderDo not order It is the VICTIM who has to go the next stepsIt is the VICTIM who has to go the next steps

Not you!Not you! Victim empowermentVictim empowerment Exploring the alternativesExploring the alternatives




3. Victim decides what to do3. Victim decides what to do› You help victim to see the You help victim to see the

DisadvantagesDisadvantages AdvantagesAdvantages Of each decisionOf each decision And you reinforce the victim in what the And you reinforce the victim in what the

victim decidesvictim decides Safety planningSafety planning

› Limit: Suicide, killing someone Limit: Suicide, killing someone




4.4. Help and Support in going throughHelp and Support in going through

› Crisis interventionalist knows the system Crisis interventionalist knows the system very wellvery well

› Victim has never interacted with the system Victim has never interacted with the system › It needs adviceIt needs advice› It needs supportIt needs support› It needs companyIt needs company› It needs encouragementIt needs encouragement



Typical StandardsTypical Standards

You are safe now!You are safe now! You are not aloneYou are not alone You did nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong. You do not have the responsibility You do not have the responsibility

for what happened to you. You are for what happened to you. You are not to be blamed. not to be blamed.

You can do it, you are importantYou can do it, you are important



You are not aloneYou are not alone› Someone is with youSomeone is with you› Someone caresSomeone cares› There is no isolationThere is no isolation› I know you feel lonely but here is an I know you feel lonely but here is an

offer to communicateoffer to communicate› I will be companyI will be company› I have no other agendaI have no other agenda



You are safe now!You are safe now!› This is a room where the offender cannot This is a room where the offender cannot

reach you.reach you.› This is a room where you can relaxThis is a room where you can relax› Your fears were justified but now you can Your fears were justified but now you can

let them golet them go› Do you feel safe? What can I do to make Do you feel safe? What can I do to make

you feel safe as long as you are here?you feel safe as long as you are here?› Whom do we need to ask for protection?Whom do we need to ask for protection?



You did nothing wrongYou did nothing wrong› Victim Assistance is to help the victim Victim Assistance is to help the victim

cope with the consequences of the cope with the consequences of the victimizationvictimization It is not the aim to find out who is to be It is not the aim to find out who is to be

blamed what has happenedblamed what has happened Especially not the victim!Especially not the victim! You have been wronged! No one is allowed to You have been wronged! No one is allowed to

treat you the way you were treatedtreat you the way you were treated This is indeed wrong what happened to you.This is indeed wrong what happened to you. You feel the right way ….You feel the right way ….



This is not your faultThis is not your fault The offender is responsibleThe offender is responsible You did not decide that this should You did not decide that this should

happen to youhappen to you It was the decision of the offenderIt was the decision of the offender Not you are responsible for this Not you are responsible for this

decisiondecision› Be aware of the need to distinguish:Be aware of the need to distinguish:

Responsibility for this eventResponsibility for this event Responsibility for future preventionResponsibility for future prevention

These principles are derived from what practitioners of victim assistance share, write and teach in trainings of volunteers.Of course these principles are highly contested among experts.Often the experts do not talk about the usual disturbances and crises victims go through, they talk about the few victims who are severely damaged. What is still missing, is a scale for the severity of victimization. Of course that has to do with the multiplicity of damage dimensions. Since we do not have clear measurements for the severity, we do not know what is the success of all attempts to alleviate the burden for victims.

Interesting Research Fields

Psycho-traumatologists tell us that PTSD can be prevented if they can start early with the treatment.Develop a scale that separates the big risks from the small risks and work with the big risks. The traditional methods of victim Assistance do not work.Cui bono? Who has the profit of all the suggested reforms in Criminal Justice?What is the benefit for victims? Often ideology and victim work make it difficult to find out whether the victim profits or the group that promotes the ideology behind the program. Especially nice in criminal justice programs.

Structure of victimology

Victimology is the social science of 1. victims2. of victimizations3. of reactions towards both

3.1 who reacts? 3.2 informal and formal reactions

Reactions1. who reacts? 1.1victims1.2 the social environment 2. what effects do reactions have? 2.1 Damaging reactions: secondary victimization2.2 Helpful reactions: victim assistance programs2.3 unconcerned reactions ? The reactions of the criminal justice system

Reactions

2. What kind of reactions?2.1 Informal reactions2.2 Formal reactions (written down, formalized)

2.2.1 Traditional criminal justice reactionThe victim in the criminal justice

system The role of the victim in criminal proceedings

2.2.2 More recent developments which have been extensive introduced by previous speakers. As far as these developments have the victim in the center of their endeavors, they are part of victimological studies.

theoretical victimology

Documents

humanistic victimology

victim ideas

schafer place victimology

mendelsohn general victimology

field criminology

victim support ukvictims

recognition of criminology

criminology territorial