CHAPTER 6

THEORIES OF VICTIMOLOGY

FOUR MAJOR THEORIES OF VICTIMOLOGY DISCUSSED BY LARRY J. SIEGEL

a. Victim Precipitation Theory

Victim precipitation theory, the first theory of victimization, contends that victims give
rise to the criminal events that harm them, either though victim facilitation or even
through victim provocation. Victim precipitation was a term first used by Wolfgang to
describe situations in which the victim was the original aggressor in the action which led
to their harm or perhaps loss. The latter style is actually an immediate
acknowledgement that some victims have characteristics or perhaps do something that
entices an offender to commit crimes against them.

Examples:

"A woman may become the target of domestic violence when she increases her job
status and her success results in a backlash from a jealous spouse or partner."

b. Lifestyle Theory

Lifestyle exposure theory speculates that persons with certain graphic profiles are more
prone to experience criminal victimization since their lifestyles expose risky situations.
The probability of victimization increases as a function of engaging in lifestyles that
increase the amount of time spent in public spaces, particularly at night and time spent
among strangers. Consequently, it's the exposure to risk and not the lifestyles per se
that create opportunities for victimization. This logic suggests that the well-established
relationship between demographic characteristics, like gender, and victimization, is fully
mediated by exposure and lifestyles to risk.

Examples:

*Single women who drink frequently and have a prior history of being sexually assaulted
are most likely to be assaulted on (college] campus."

"People who belong to groups that have an extremely risky life-homeless, runaways,
drug users-are at high risk for victimization; the more time they are exposed to street
life, the greater their risk of becoming crime victims."

c. Deviant Place Theory

The deviant place theory notes that greater exposure to dangerous locations helps
make a person much more susceptible to be the target of any crime. The more often
victims visit dangerous places, the more likely they'll be exposed to violence and crime.
Victims don't encourage crime but are actually victim prone since they reside in socially
disorganized high crime areas and greatest risk of coming into contact with criminal
offenders.

To negate the possibility that an individual is going to become the target of any crime,
the person must stay away from the "bad" areas of town where crime rates are high and
live in a less deviant or very low crime rate region.
 d. Routine Activities Theory

The regular or routine activity theory explains the speed of victimization by way of a set
of situations which reflect the routines of regular individuals. These are the following:
First, the accessibility of suitable targets, Second, the lack of capable guardians; and
Three, the presence of inspired offenders. Based on this particular concept, the
presence of one or even more of these elements creates a greater risk of victimization.

Example: Leaving one's home unattended as they head off on a vacation makes their
home a suitable target for burglars. Leaving a house for holiday in a metropolitan area
generates an even higher threat, and also doing so in an urban area where there's a
greater number of teenage boys, acknowledged felons, and any other "motivated
offenders" generates an even greater risk for victimization. Towns and or suburban
areas with high police visibility, other protection systems and sensors, and
neighborhood watch teams reduce the possibility of victimization.