victimology

The study of victims of crime , including such aspects as patterns of offence, place of incident, characteristics of and relationship between victim and offender, and the like. The field has recently been stimulated by the increased availability of victim surveys which provide data on the hidden incidence of crime. Common but sometimes controversial key themes include the idea that some individuals may be more prone to victimization than are others, and that some victims contribute to or ‘precipitate’ their victimization, for example because of their style of dress or by frequenting risky locations. The implications of the latter argument have been criticized within feminist criminology . Victim support organizations have developed in order to campaign for appropriate services and policies.