Introduction Secondary victimisation is where the victims of crime are treated with disrespect and have had their basic human rights ignored. In certain instances, this secondary victimisation can be far more traumatic to the victim than the initial crime. Not only can the secondary victimisation be due to the treatment by criminal justice officials, but also by the victim’s family, friends or community. Secondary victimisation in the court process Secondary victimisation refers to behaviours and attitudes of social service providers that are "victim-blaming" and insensitive, and which traumatise victims of violence who are being served by these agencies. A victim of rape (primary victimisation), for example, may be subjected to victim blaming and ostracism as the result of the attack; those who become disabled (primary victimisation) may be subjected to non-accommodation, medicalization, and segregation; and those who develop mental disorder (primary victimisation) may be subject to institutionalisation, that in each case may be far more victimising to these individuals and limiting of their life opportunity than the primary victimising stigmatic condition itself, and are thus called secondary victimisation.
What is crime? Crime or criminal behaviour is deviance or deviant behaviour that is an infraction of the criminal law, otherwise known as law-breaking. Crimes are generally seen by society as very serious and negative forms of deviance, which is why there are laws that ban this type of behaviour and police and judges that help to uphold them. The following definition reflects this view. ‘Crimes are those actions deemed so disturbing to
The labelling theory consists of the fact that external people for example higher middle class or forms of authority, labels other members in society as being criminals or being deviant. The labelling theory works like this: a form of authority or even common people instinctively have a stereotype or put certain members of society into certain categories therefore labelling people as being criminals or having deviant behaviour and therefore this makes the members of society being labelled, commit to a self fulfilling prophecy whereby they end up acting out what they have been pre-judged as. Interpretivists accept this concept is highly useful and valid as it is qualitative. However, positivists believe it is low in reliability and usefulness as data is not numerical and cannot be compared, or even that there is no data at all. Being a criminal or deviant could be seen to be a social construct and therefore this may mean that you could question what criminal activity is and whether this social construct is even right since it has been constructed by members of the society.
Further, because most hate-crime legislation puts added effort into prosecuting crimes against certain individuals or groups, what about the same crimes committed against someone who doesn't fit into one of those groups? Will the crime be prosecuted to the same extent? If not, you're making things worse for the majority, who are likely to feel underprotected. If the problem is that too many people (of any group) are being mugged, or assaulted, or their belongings vandalized, you should put more effort into prosecuting muggings, assaults, or vandalism. Not to protect any one group, but to protect all
Batter is the unlawful physical violence on another person without their consent. Assault is a specific intent crime and battery is the commission of the specific intent. To constitute assault one has to commit an overt act from which the inference can be drawn that a violent injury was intended. Aggravated assaults are assaults with the intent to commit another offense like rape or murder. Aggravated assault can mean that assault is committed with the intention of committing an additional crime or something that involves a special circumstance.
Violating a person in such a way is horrible, cruel and it can lead to severe physiological problems of the victim. Rape is not beneficial to society and it is not agreed upon by both parties, but instead forced upon on the one not in agreement. Rape is not only with women, but also with children and men. There are those who specifically target women because they know they can overpower them if they need to in order to get their way. Children or minors may lack the judgment needed for valid consent.
Deviant behaviors are those behaviors that society considers to be bad, evil, sinful, criminal, insane, or even rude. Deviance is likely to produce some social efforts to punish and or control the deviant individual (sanctions). Deviance can be divided into categories along sexual lines which is to say that there are norms, social codes, standards, and moral codes for sexual behavior. Violation of the norms, social codes, standards and moral codes set up for heterosexuals are said to consist of “heterosexual deviant behaviors” or “heterosexual deviance. Several examples of heterosexual deviance include: teen sex, extramarital sex, pornography, cybersex, sexual harassment, and prostitution.
The philosophy of retribution is that of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In other words, that to cause a crime violates the social contract and a criminal must pay his or her debt to society by being punished. This principle suggests that a crime against one individual is a crime against all citizens. According to Lawlink, retribution is the theory that the guilty should endure the punishment which they entirely deserve. Denunciation then again, involves the imposition of a sentence which is in fact severe with regards to make a statement, which the crime in question is not to be tolerated by the community (2003).
Can a single person be held responsible for crimes against humanity? Crimes against humanity can be defined extreme and sustained degradation or humiliation of one or more individuals, as a part of a wider and systematic practice condoned by a higher authority, and i think, taking this definition into account that Ultimately, while an individual may be the controlling force and ignite the wave of extreme violence and discrimination, he has to be supported by others in order to build a culture of such extreme hatred; implicating his allies and as such an individual cannot be held wholly responsible for crimes against humanity, although he can be allocated a great portion of the blame. An individual cannot be wholly responsible for such a widespread and sustained practise of atrocities as actions of many are due to being subjected to oppression or under orders of someone of higher authority. In such a case, when the order comes form a higher authority, most often people do not have an option to rebel against their orders. It is usually a "kill or be killed order".
Why is it important to provide support for victims of crime? “Victim”, a person who has endured harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or considerable harm of their, basic right as a result of acts or omissions that are in breach of criminal laws operative within Member States, including those laws proscribing criminal abuse of power. Whether you have experienced the theft or damage of your property, suffered a violent attack, had someone close to you hurt or killed, or witnessed some other crime or incident, the impact can produce a variety of emotions and reactions in you and those close to you. In our day and age we are lucky enough to have organisation that help victims overcome their troubles. These support services are extremely important to victims of crime, they enable victims to overcome the experience and get back on their feet and back to their every day lives.