Victimology

• Miers (positivist):

  • Focus 3 aspects:
  • Patterns of victimisation
  • Interpersonal crimes of violence ( contributed to own victimisation)
  • E.g. Marvin Wolfgang: victim precipitation + blaming
  • Victim proneness (social + psychological characteristics of victims)
• Mawby + Walklate (critical victim ology) :

  • Victimisation = form of structural powerlessness
  • Powerless groups = women + poor
  • Marx + fem : structural factors = patriarchy + poverty
  • E.g. Police notur pressing charges against man assaulting his wife
  • Denying her victim status 
• Feminists: (victimology)

  • Attack emphasis on fear of crime
  • Argue focuses on women's passivity + psychological state
  • When focus should be on their safety
  • E.g. Structural threat - patriarchal violence they face
• Nils Christie (victimology) :

  • Victims = socially constructed
  • Stereotype of ideal victim
  • Favoured by media, public + CJS
  • = weak, innocent, blameless individual
  • E.g. Old woman/ small child