Victims of Crime
Case
Using concept of lifestyle theory
Case Study One
Before presenting the case (it can be distributed, read, or
projected), ask students to go through the case by paying
particular attention to the following questions.
What happened?
What type of damage did the victim(s) suffer?
What needs the victim(s) might have? What are the victims'
rights? What would be the best approach to ensuring justice
for these victim(s)?
Allie and Mike are both in their mid-seventies. They are both
retired, and since their children grew up and left, besides
being grandparents, they look after themselves, travel, spend
time in the community, and engaged with various hobbies.
Mike had a hip replacement a few years ago and has some
issue in walking; Allie has high blood pressure and is on heart
medication. They have been together for 45 years. One night
while returning from a concert performance, Allie was taking
the keys from her bag, they were approached by two young
men who distracted them by asking for directions. They
seemed lost and were very gentle to the couple, apologizing.
After spending a few seconds in exchanging information, one
of the two young men, grabbed Allie's bag, where she had
her purse, keys, her mobile and some photos and small
objects, while the other young men hit Mike on his head,
took his wallet and left him unconscious on the ground. Allie,
in total shock, started shouting and asking for help. She did
not have the phone anymore, and as much as she was
shaking could not even shout; eventually, after ten minutes,
someone called an ambulance and then the police arrived.
They were both brought the hospital where Mile spent five
days 'under observation' due to a mild concussion. When
home, he could not stand on his own feet, as he was always
dizzy and losing balance. Consequently, one of their sons
moved in, and they also had to have some professional
assistance. One of the two young men were arrested three
days after the attack thanks to some cameras positioned in a
nearby bank. He pleaded guilty, saying that he was under the
effects of drug and alcohol and did not have the means to pay
back any of the costs or damages.
Studies
Before presenting the case (it can be distributed, read, or
projected), ask students to go through the case by paying
particular attention to the following questions.
What happened?
What type of damage did the victim(s) suffer? What needs the
victim(s) might have and have had?
What was done wrong concerning justice for victims?
What was the role of the victim in the courtroom? What was the
purpose of the impact statement and had it helped the victim?
How would you address the victims' need for security under the
United Nations standards and norms?
What lessons for a Justice for Victims could be learned from this
case?
Brunel is a 25-year-old man who moved into a new town to start
his new job. Upon his arrival he did not know anyone in this town.
He started to go to the gym, attend some cultural events and go to
piano lessons. One evening, while ordering a beer at a bar, he was
approached by a group of men and women who asked his name,
where he came from, and why he was sitting all alone in a bar.
While introducing himself, Brunel who had declined the invitations
from two girls in the bar was questioned about his masculinity by
the other men in the group. They asked him what was wrong with
him, and whether he was ill, not wanting to go with the girls.
Brunel felt uncomfortable but did not want to be rude and did not
pay much attention to what had happened.
A few days later, Brunel was brutally attacked by an unidentified
group of people who hit him, urinated in his face, and kicked him in
his genitals.
Several months after the attack, and after many visits to the
hospital, doctors, psychologist, psychiatrist, he was told he had to
go to court to testify to provide all details about what had
happened.
Brunel was allowed to provide a statement (VIS) about how the
events had impacted his life and how he was coping. The
statements he provided were so full of details of the devastating
effects that the defence lawyer even said, that it was enough and
that the jury could read the statement without having Brunel
having to appear to read his statement. Brunel said he wanted and
needed to give the full story, but the judge decided that a
three-minute statement would be sufficient.
Brunel decided to drop the civil case he had initiated to seek some
form of compensation for the costs he had incurred (and those
that he still had to face). After two months he attempted to
commit suicide, and he is still receiving psychiatric treatment.