Crime Victimization: Chapter 4 & 5 PDF

Chapter 4 General social survey findings: 2014: - 1 in 4 people are a victim of crime - 6.4 million incidents reported - 35% violent crimes - Single parent, renting in a disorderly neighbourhood 2019: - 1 in 5 people are a victim of crime - 8 million incidents...

Chapter 4 General social survey findings: 2014: - 1 in 4 people are a victim of crime - 6.4 million incidents reported - 35% violent crimes - Single parent, renting in a disorderly neighbourhood 2019: - 1 in 5 people are a victim of crime - 8 million incidents reported - 30% violent crimes - 56% of victims did not report a crime because too minor Problems of crime victims - Financial loss - replacing property, decreased ability to work - Psychological injury - medical treatment - Revictimization - court process, victim blaming - Mental injury/trauma - long-term effects of crime - Physical injury - medical treatment Antisocial behaviour - Early victimization and later criminality are associated - Victims of certain crimes are more likely to commit crimes themselves - Child abuse or neglect increases the risk of being - Childhood abuse is related to drug use and adult crime - Males are more likely to use violence if he or his wife was abused - Females showed behavioural and adjustment problems if they were exposed to family violence - Intergenerational trauma due to the residential school system forced on Indigenous people Nature of victimization - Victim survey - concluded crimes are underreported - The country u live in affects the type of crime you may experience. Canada has a high rate of car thefts - Atlantic provinces have lower crime rates than Western provinces - Victimization is not random but a factor of ecological and personal factors - Victims and perpetrators are often known to each other or have some associations The social ecology of victimization Victim characteristics - Gender: 2019 gss: woman slightly more likely than men to be victims of assault. Women are much more likely to be victims of sexual assault  - Age: gss survey: youths face a greater risk of victimization than older persons - Social status- poorer Canadians more likely to live in crime areas - Ethnicity- 2009 gss: Indigenous people had higher rates of victimization for sexual assault - Relationship - a national survey of violence against women: 30% of women currently/ previously married had experienced at least 1 incident of abuse Chapter 5: choice theory Why do people decide to violate the law? The development of classical theory - Choice theory first appeared as classical criminology - Criminals are rational so their behaviour van be deterred by the fear of punishment - Classical theory is sometimes referred to utilitarianism, with beccaria, bentham and other utilitarian philosophers at its core Classical concepts - People choose all behaviour - When you violate someone you violate the social contract - Society must provide the greatest good for the greatest number - Laws should not dictate morality - Presumption of innocence - Laws and punishments should be transparent and written - Society gives up some liberty in exchange for social protection - People are motivated by pain and pleasure - Punishment hsould be severe, swift and fair to deter crime Concepts of classical theory - People choose all behaviour - Society must provide the greatest good for the greatest number Objectives of punishment - Both bentham and beccaria wanted to prevent all crime - - convince offenders to commit less serious crimes - Criminals only use necessary force - Prevented as cheaply as possible Canadian charter of rights and freedoms Section 12 - treatment of punishment “everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel or unusual punishment Choice theory emerges - James Q Wilson - rejected the idea that crime is caused by poverty and altered by government programs  - Focus on individuals - reduce opportunities for would be criminals (targetting hardening, prevention) and use of prisons to incapacitate and deter criminal activity - Criminals lack inhibition, value excitement of breaking laws are non-conformists willing to take chances more than the average person. Does crime pay? National crime victimisation survey, wilson and abrahamse: - Mid rate burglars earned average 32% of the earning potential of a legitimate job - High rate burglars committing 193 crimes per year, earn roughly the same as tehy would from a legitimate job - Even if they were not incarcerated for the entire year, high rate burglars earned about the same as if they has held a job for the same period - Research shows criminals may be motivated by others who Crime profits: mid rate burglar $16000 (32% of legitimate job) High rate burglar (50,000) Costas: legal fees, bail bonds, loss of income, loss of relationships, psychological costs Crime earnings: very little and directly impacts earnings potential when you get out of jail Offence specific crime - The offender evaluates the characteristics of an offence, assessing opportunity and guardianship - Robbery might involve evaluating the target slikely crash yield, the availability of a getaway car, and the probability of capture by police Edwin alonzo boyd - bank robber in 1949 and the son of a toronto policeman, ultimately unsuccessful - Shot at, chased, espcated and then imprisoned from 1952 to 1966 Offender specofc crime Defintion - An offender evaluates their skills, motivates, needs and fears before committingbthe offence Deterrence - offenders determine the risk of getting cough is too high and do not carry through Example - effender recently released from jail Rational choice theory Structuring criminality + structuring crime = opportunity Rational choice theory Personal - Need for money - Revenge - Thrills - Entertainment - Potential value of crime Situational factors - How well the target is protected - Efficiency of police in the area - Risk of apprehension - Seriousness of expected punishment Suitable targets - rational choice - perception of target vulnerability Routine activities - the more accessible the more likely the crime will occur Capable guardinas - rational choice -