Reference no: EM133332515
From the mid to late 1900s, services and programs to help crime victims evolved. After World War II, victimology started to grow. But a lot had to occur to get to where we are now. Over the years, law enforcement has become mandated to take specific actions involving crime victims, especially victims of domestic violence. Understanding victimology could help me in my chosen career. Victimology would make me more understanding of the needs of victims, the trauma they experience, their fear of retaliation, their rights, and how we can make them more willing to work with the police. Victimology would provide me with the knowledge to educate victims to make them aware of their rights throughout the criminal justice process.
The way that police officers work with victims should provide an atmosphere where victims can decide for themselves whether they want to pursue charges or testify against an offender. Law enforcement can be more successful with victimology training. If a victim is a minority or female, they might feel they won't be treated fairly. Law enforcement officers should know the history of the women's, civil rights, and children's movements and how we got our modern victim's rights system today. Criminal justice professionals and anyone that works with crime victims should be aware of the United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. That document is designed to ensure global standards for the equal treatment of crime victims (Takahashi & James, 2018). If officers can better understand victims, that will make them more effective in gathering evidence and preparing cases.
Based on your own experience or research, what are some additional aspects of the role of that profession in regard to assisting victims not mentioned in the initial post? If possible, provide resources to your peers.
Are there points in their response about how understanding victimology can help them in the profession they chose that you had not considered? Or are there points they did not consider that you think might be useful to mention?