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Crime Victims: An Introduction to
Victimology
Sixth Edition
By Andrew Karmen
Chapter Two:
The Rediscovery of Crime
Victims
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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
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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
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History of Victims
 Focus of prosecutors and courts was to
deter crime through punishment, long
sentences and execution
 Victims lost control of cases in court
 Not notified or involved with plea bargaining
of their cases in court
 VICTIMS WERE VICTIMIZED AGAIN, NOW
BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
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Rediscovery of Victims
 Late 50s and early 60s social movement of
three groups responsible for the rediscovery
of victims:
– Law and Order Movement
– Civil Rights Movement
– Women’s Rights Movement
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Rediscovery of Victims
 Law and Order Groups
– “Get tough on criminals” focused on victims
– Lock up criminals quickly and longer
– Fewer loopholes for attorneys
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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
Berkley 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
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Rights of Children
Senior Citizens—Elder Abuse
Homosexuals
Better training for law enforcement
Expansion of “Equal Protection Under Law”
Media played major role in reviving victim roles
Business sector provided—pepper spray, guns, alarm
systems, security services, etc.
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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
Some of these reforms may prove to be illconceived, ineffective and counterproductive
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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
– Talk show hosts often reflect their unconscious
biases
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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
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Rediscovery of Victims
 Commercialization of products and services
for victims
– Efforts to engage in fear mongering and false
advertising to cash in on customer’s fear of
becoming a victim
 Automobile anti-theft devices (Do they really work?)
 Home security systems
 Pepper spray
 Firearms
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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
 Process of Rediscovery Continues:
See Box 2.1 Page 40
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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
Sexual Assault
Self Definition
Victimization
Process
Conflict
Approach
Claims-making
Ongoing social
problems
models
Stigma
Contests
Typification
False Memory
Syndrome
“Going Postal”
Road Rage
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