Crime Victims: An Introduction to
Victimology
Seventh Edition
By Andrew Karmen
Chapter Two:
The Rediscovery of Crime
Victims
1
History of Victims
 In ancient times, criminal justice focused on
victims to seek redress for pain and suffering
based upon biblical tenets and English Common
Law
 Industrialization and urbanization began to
diminish the role of victims
 Victims lost control of government and judicial
process
 Ultimately became a civil rather than a criminal
matter
2
History of Victims
 History in United States similar
 In Colonial America, victims paid for
warrants, for sheriff to investigate and to
incarcerate
 “Bill of Rights” focused on hostilities toward
the “state”
– Focused on protecting rights of criminals
 Violation of laws more important than harm
to victims
3
History of Victims
 Focus of prosecutors and courts was to
deter crime through punishment, long
sentences and execution
 Prosecutors were given the powers and
duties that were previously the responsibility
of victims
 Not notified or involved with plea bargaining
of their cases in court
4
Rediscovery of Victims
 Late 50s and early 60s social movements
influenced the rediscovery of victims:
– Law and Order Movement
– Civil Rights Movement
– Women’s Rights Movement
5
Rediscovery of Victims
 Law and Order Groups
– Reaction to rising crime rates
– “Get tough on criminals” focused on victims
– Lock up criminals quickly and for a longer time
– Fewer loopholes for attorneys
6
Rediscovery of Victims
 Women’s Movement—Became very active
in anti-rape and anti-battering campaigns
– Efforts to break down patriarchal culture
tradition to subjugate women
– 1972—First anti-rape effort with crisis centers in
Berkeley, CA and Washington D.C.
– 1974—First “Safe House” for battered women
established in St. Paul, Minnesota
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Rediscovery of Victims
 Other Social Movements
–
–
–
–
–
–
Rights of Children
Senior Citizens—Elder Abuse
Homosexuals
Better training for law enforcement
Media played major role in reviving victim roles
Businesses cater to victims: pepper spray, guns, alarm
systems, security services, etc.
8
Rediscovery of Victims
 Politicians enacting legislation named after
victims became very popular:
– Brady Bill
– Amber Alert
– Megan’s Law
– Jenna’s Law
– Kendra’s Law
9
Rediscovery of Victims
 The news media played a major role in the
rediscovery of victims
– More attention given to victims rather than
offenders in media coverage
– Highly publicized cases gave victims a forum to
be heard
– 24-hour news cycle delivers reports of crimes
and victims around the clock
10
Rediscovery of Victims
 Media’s rights to report crimes often
conflicts with the victim’s rights for privacy
 Solutions to this problem include:
– “Shield laws” to protect from needless and
unnecessary disclosure of names and
addresses and previous victim involvement
– Self restraint of reporters and editors
– Adoption of a “Code of Ethics” requiring
reporters to read a victim their “victim rights”
prior to any interviews
11
Rediscovery of Victims
 Commercialization of products and services
for victims
– Businesses cash in on customers’ fear of
becoming a victim
 Automobile anti-theft devices (Do they really work?)
 Home security systems
 Pepper spray
 Firearms
12
Rediscovery of Victims
 Victimologists played a major role
 Process of rediscovery unfolds through a
series of steps and stages:
– Stage 1—Calling Attention to an Overlooked
Problem
– Stage 2—Winning Victories, Implementing
Reforms
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Rediscovery of Victims
 Stage 3—Emergence of an Opposition and
Development of Resistance to Further
Changes
 Stage 4—Research and Temporary Resolution of
Disputes
 The process of rediscovery continues:
See Box 2.2 Page 48
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Key Terms
Street Crimes
Tort Law
Law and Order
Movement
Civil liberties
Movement
Self Help
Movement
English
Common Law
Public
Prosecutors
Women’s
Movement
Children’s
Rights
Movement
Brady Bill
Civil Court
Plea
Negotiations
Civil Rights
Movement
Gay Rights
Movement
Amber Alert
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Key Terms
Megan’s Law
Constructionist
Approach
Social
Construction
Trafficking in
Human Beings
Road Rage
Self Definition
Victimization
Process
Conflict
Approach
Claims-making
Moral
Entrepreneurs
False Memory
Syndrome
Elder Abuse
Hate Crimes
Stigma
Contests
Typification
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