Victimology is an important area of the criminal justice system that we should not forget, but it gets less attention than other areas within forensic psychology. When criminal cases and the perpetrators of victim crimes are viewed and scrutinized in the news, media, or documentaries, the primary focus is often on the perpetrator of the crime. This discussion will draw attention to the victims by discussing the impact the crime had on them, as well as how they are affected by the criminal justice system.
After completing the readings for this week, please answer the following.
*Provide an overview of victimology for a reader with no knowledge of the concept.
*How has society’s perspective of victims evolved over time?
*Compare and contrast the perspectives of retributive and restorative justice?
*Does one of these perspectives offer more satisfaction to victims? If so, why?
References
Constanzo, M., & Krauss, D. (2021). Forensic and legal psychology: Psychological science applied to law (4th ed.). Worth Publishers. (Chapter 11)
Mawby, R. I., & Walklate, S. (1994). Critical victimology: International perspectives. SAGE Publications, Inc. Chapter 1: “Perspectives on Victimology” and Chapter 5: “Immediate Help for the Victims of Crime”
Malsch, M., & Kaptein, H. (2017). Crime, victims and justice: Essays on principles and practice. Routledge. Chapter 1: “Doubts on the Upsurge of the Victim’s Role in Criminal Law” and Chapter 2: “Gearing Justice Action to Victim Satisfaction Contrasting Two Justice Philosophies: Retribution and Redress”