Assignment:
The Evolution of Victimology and the Influence of Bias
Most crimes imply a victim, and the definition of a crime as unlawful means that something can be made right again for a victim. Prior to industrialized societies, victims played a central role in restitution. The resulting inter-society violence and score settling that disrupted society, combined with the reorganization of many societies during industrialization, led to an evolution that changed the focus from victim restitution to offender punishment. Karmen (2020) refers to the "rediscovery" of the victim's role and the victim's outcomes in the study of crime and justice that has occurred in recent decades. That evolution has helped criminal justice professionals better understand the full effect of criminal acts. Still, preconceived ideas about individuals and communities and their responses can lead to unfavorable outcomes for both victims and offenders. This week, you examine the change in perception and the treatment of victims before and after the emergence of the field of victimology.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze the effects of personal and media bias toward crime victims or offenders
- Analyze the influence of media coverage on jury bias
- Analyze the effect of major criminal events on victim legislation and the evolution of victimology
- Analyze the effect of the field of victimology on the perception and treatment of victims
Discussion: The Role of Bias
The act of blaming a victim for his or her own victimization is referred to as victim blaming. This blaming can come from many sources including the offender, society, family members, health care providers, the media, and even criminal justice professionals.
The act of blaming a victim for their crime-which differs from actions that may inadvertently or structurally create criminal opportunity-may begin with bias. Preconceived, negative ideas about those involved in a crime may lead to a less than objective analysis of the facts in a case. These biases may be personal, come from a community, or be perpetuated by news outlets. And, bias can affect the offender as much as the victim, leading to such negative outcomes as victim blaming or jury bias.
In this Discussion, you first consider your own personal bias in relation to a criminal case before examining how bias in general can lead to consequential effects for offenders, victims, and juries.
To prepare:
Your Instructor may post a contemporary news story or other case that details a crime; alternately, your Instructor may invite you to find your own example.
Read the Instructor's posted contemporary crime story or case. You may also refer to a story you researched.
Post a response to the following:
Based on either the case or news item that your Instructor posted or that you found, describe one bias you may have in relation to the circumstances.
Determine whether your bias falls in the category of victim blaming or is a bias toward the offender and explain why.
Explain how media coverage of the case contributes to overall bias and the possibility of jury bias.
1. BIAS
2. MEDIA COVERAGE
3. JUROR BIAS
Readings:
Black Victims of Violent Crime
By Erika Harrell