Crime Victims: An Introduction To Victimology Site

: Benjamin Mendelsohn and Hans von Hentig are considered the "fathers" of the field. Mendelsohn coined the term "victimology" in 1947.

Victimologists use several frameworks to understand why victimization occurs: Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology

Victimology is the scientific study of crime victims, focusing on the causes of victimization, its consequences, and how the criminal justice system and society respond to those affected. While criminology asks why people break the law, victimology investigates why certain individuals or entities are targeted and how they can be better supported. 1. Historical Evolution of Victimology : Benjamin Mendelsohn and Hans von Hentig are

: Initial research centered on "victim precipitation"—the idea that some victims' actions or characteristics might contribute to the crime. While criminology asks why people break the law,

: Examines the extent to which a victim's behavior (intentional or not) may have initiated or fueled the criminal interaction.

: Focuses on geography, arguing that individuals living in or frequenting socially disorganized or high-crime areas are at a greater risk, regardless of their own behavior. 3. Categories of Victims

: Suggests that an individual's routine activities and lifestyle choices (e.g., frequently being in high-crime areas at night) can increase their exposure to motivated offenders.