Sellin and Wolfgang’s Typology of Victimization

Crimes can be very complex and have several components, including the crime itself, the offender and the victim. Everyday we read or hear about one crime or another from various forms of news. Often times, we get a very vague idea of what happened; in some cases we find out more as time passes and in other cases the crimes go left unspoken about. These news articles also take different approaches on what is emphasized; whether the focus is about the crime, offender or victim. Researchers have also developed methods for categorizing victims, using typology. These classifications either had categories for victims or categories for the situations that led to victimization. In this case the focus will be on the application of Sellin and Wolfgang’s Typology of victimization.

The focus of Sellin and Wolfgang’s typology is a five category system that addressed situations instead of relations. Those categories are referred to as primary, secondary, tertiary, mutual and no victimization (Meadows, 2010). Each of the categories addressed a specific situation that would lead to victimization. Since each of the categories differ it is important to discuss each in a bit of detail. The following is a list of each category described in more detail:

(1) Primary Victimization “refers to personalized or individual victimization such as when an individual or group selects a specific person to target for victimization.”

(2) Secondary Victimization “are impersonal targets of the offender.”

(3) Tertiary Victimization “involves the public or society as a victim.”

(4) Mutual Victimization “refers to when offenders become the victims, as when two people engage in a criminal activity and then one becomes the victim of the other.”

(5) No Victi...

... middle of paper ...

...was a friendly person and this individual was her friend and had been so for two years.

This type of situation would fall under Sellin and Wolfgang’s category of primary victimization. Although, the articles do not necessarily suggest premeditated murder, Ottman became the target of Cruz, as events started happening. Furthermore, the presentation of this incident makes it seem like a random act of violence. Perhaps it was not, and there were, any factors that pointed to a toxic situation. However, this is not what is being presented in various news articles.

References:

Meadows, R.J., Understanding Violence and Victimization, 5th edition, Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc. 2010

State's Attorney Calls Suspect's Statement 'Chilling'. (2010). Retrieved July 22, 2010, from Eyewitness News 3: http://www.wfsb.com/news/24307972/detail.html