Victimology: Origins, Evolution and Implications

First we need to look at what is Victimology and where did it come from? The origins of Victimology can be traced back to the 1940’s to the 1950’s and early 1960’s it erupted after World War II to seek and understand the relationship between criminal and victim. It began when criminologist had came together to examine the victims of crime at a university. ‘Criminology is the science upon which victimology is founded’ (Wallace; Roberson 2) and when two criminologists, “The founding fathers of Victimology” Mendelsohn and Von Hentig first began the field of victimology by using charts and analysis of different types of crimes of victims. They studied the behaviors and vulnerabilities of victims like, rape victims and murder victims. How some of the ways that some of us can relate to of what a victim is. As Wallace; Roberson writes:

The members of a murder victim’s family are more than a “third party”.

According to Nash, the definition of “victim” is a slippery concept. Nast notes that as a matter of law, whether someone is a victim of a crime may depend, among other things, on the type and extent of injury sustained, the tenuousness of the connection of injury to the offender’s conduct, and whether the victim was at fault in the criminal transactions. Nash also note that that the term, “victim” is inconsistently applied in the various arenas of federal criminal law. While the definitions of “victim found in the federal restitution and victim’s rights statutes are functionally identical, the federal Rules of Criminal Procedure define “victim” differently. (Wallace; Roberson

2)

After that statement, no wonder why people are so scared not to call themselves victims of crime and are emotionally upset. I agree with part of this statement, but I don’t see where it is the “victims” fault if someone criminally harmed them. That is why in 2004 Crime Victims’ Rights Act passed. When this bill had passed, it was put into place to ensure that victims of such horrible crimes are protected by threats and know where the offender is at when they are released from jail and be able to attend and testify at parole hearings. Also, within this bill was to help fund over a five year span and grants to state, tribal and local prosecutors’ offices were also created to enforce victims’ rights, which how it should be. I believe that victims of any crime should not keep repeating the tarmac events over and over again. Time can only heal that truly can have a positive outlook on it and for some will be scared for live.
Which brings me to, “Office for Victims of Crime,” or the abbreviation “OVC” was created in 1982 but wasn’t until October 12th 1984 that President Reagan passed it and signed it into law. This Act is about the main source of federal support for the victims of crime during hardship of the emotional and physical trauma the offender did to the victim. In a way I see it as kind of help, but victims also need therapy to help as well as when hardship comes like this to when the attackers had scared them and are unable to work due to the fear of it happening and many other scenarios. With that Act pass brings me to the next one I will briefly talk about, “1984 Victims of Crime Act passed by Congress.” When this “VOCA” was passed it was to help states in provide good quality services dealing with the emotional healing and recovering victims through these services to also help the victims with ongoing support when the victims try to rebuild their lives after the impact of them being victimized.
In 1976 Nova was formed and it is the oldest national victim assistance organization and is largely well known within the U.S. This organization is a private, charity and non- profit organization. Its main function is to have compassion with victims and be respectful to one another.