The crime, the victim, and the job role

Introduction

The law enforcement officers play a critical role in interacting with victims and ensuring that they receive the appropriate services and assistance such as counseling. Therefore, the law enforcement officers act as the first responders in helping the victims gain a sense of security, satisfaction, wellbeing, and the necessary information.  It is also important to note that victims also play a crucial role in providing details about the crime. Note that they act as the first witnesses and therefore they must cooperate with the law informant to conduct the investigation, and gather evidence. The victim and the professional roles are not the only factors that are considered when addressing crime but it is also important to consider how the crime affects the victim, the family, and society. The effects evaluation help implement the appropriate policies such as social response, education assistance, among other policies to support the victim. Crime contributes to serious consequences that affect the victim as well the society.  Law enforcement and the victim play a significant role in addressing the consequences through victim support services. The latter is achieved through coordination between the victims of crime and law enforcement agencies.

 How a professional comes into contact and interacts with a specific type of victim

The first point to understand is that interaction between the professional and the victim begins when an incident is reported to the police. At this point, the victim feels helpless and traumatized, and therefore the law informant professionals play a crucial role at this stage in promoting victim satisfaction. Holder et al. (2010) assert that the professional, who is the first responder should interact with the victim by giving self-introduction, that is; state your name as well as roles and duties. Secondly, the law enforcement officer should use an empathetic tone and show concern. For example, the officer can show concern by saying "I'm here now", should also maintain eye contact, and use body language.  A professional also interacts with the victim by asking the victim to explain what has happened or rather by conducting an interview (Holder, 2010).  Next, the professional may contact a family member, a counselor, or any person who would play a crucial role in helping the victim.  Another way a professional interacts with the victim is by giving him or her a pamphlet which will help the victim understand the 'victims' right', contact information, support groups, toll-free hotlines, and other services.

 Healy (2019) affirms that the first stage of creating interaction with the victim is very useful as it increases victim satisfaction. This type of interaction or victim satisfaction ensures an effective criminal justice process. Studies reported that victims who experience fair and legitimate police procedures increase cooperation and trust. They also show a willingness to continue with further criminal justice procedures, and also to obey the law. This indicates that the initial contact and interaction is very important as the police can help the victims recover.   Healy (2019) says that for the victims to achieve a higher level of satisfaction, and willingness to cooperate, the law enforcement professionals must implement the best practices. It is important to note that victim satisfaction is significant but the process to promote satisfaction is the most significant. This indicates that police treatment or how the police interact with the victim is essential. Therefore, police should not only focus on the outcomes but they should first consider the quality of interaction. As stated above, the law informant professionals should ensure high-quality interaction through high-quality communication and referral to victim support services.

 

Theories to explain the role of the victims

 Victimization Precipitation Theory

 The theory states that the victims may initiate a crime or attract violence through his or her provocative actions. Criminal violence may occur as a result of active behaviors such as the use of threatening language, insult, or physical violence (Siegel, 2011).  The later encourages the attacker and leads to the crime.  Secondly, criminal violence may occur due to passive behaviors. This means that a victim may unknowingly threaten the attacker.  For example, a woman invites rape by dressing sexy clothes.  The attacker may believe that the victim is seducing men and the behavior of the woman leads to the criminal episode.

  Lifestyle theories

 The lifestyle theories state that crime is triggered by the victim's lifestyle. For example, some people are high-risk victims. These are individuals who abuse drugs, drink alcohol,   and others are runways, and homeless (Siegel, 2011).  Most of the time, these people are found on the streets where they are vulnerable to fights and assaults. They are exposed to all kinds of violence that increase victimization. Another form of lifestyle that increases victimization is the college lifestyle.  Note that college students are vulnerable to victimization due to their behaviors such as drinking, sexual behaviors, dance, substance abuse, among other behaviors that increases the victimization (Siegel, 2011).  Other individuals are involved in a criminal lifestyle. This is a type of lifestyle where young people become members of gangs.   Note that such individuals carry weapons, engage in fights, and other activities that cause serials injuries.

 

 

 Deviant place theory

            The theory states that individuals become victims by visiting dangerous places.  For example, people who live in high-crime areas will experience criminal offenders. The offenders like to dwell in densely populated areas because they find it easy to target vehicles, smartphones, car keys, household items, among other things (Siegel, 2011). Thus, people who live in these areas become victims irrespective of their way of life.

  Routine activities theory

 An individual may become a victim simply because the offender can easily access properties such as homes (Siegel, 2011). The offender is influenced by the lack of security from police or homeowners, and offenders engage in crime due to motivation from peer groups.  These three variables will increase victimization.

 Personal consequences of the crime on the victim and family.

 Crime is a threat to the victim, the family, and society. First, the victim and the family face enormous consequences in that the victim may die, and the family is left grieving and struggling with the financial burden (Utech, 1994).  Secondly, a victim may be injured and he or she struggles with personal expenses including medical expenses, physical therapy, loss of property, mental health counseling, and more.  The National Crime Survey reports that the victim and the family incur a cost of more than $13 billion (Utech, 1994). This is a result of property damage, cash losses, and other expenses.  It is also estimated that victims encounter economic loss in that some do not attend work and others spend money on medical issues. Note that the victim and the family also suffer from social and psychological consequences. They experience higher levels of fears, they lose trust in society, they become guilty of being victimized, and they suffer from depression as a result of anxiety, sleeplessness, fear, shame, and anger.

Effect of crime on society

 Crime has an enormous effect on the society and its members.  Crime not only affects the victim and the family but the society feels that the safety is threatened.  When a crime occurs, society becomes vulnerable to violations as a result of a lack of safety (Weisburd et al. 2018).  Top of FormCrime does not only reduce safety but it causes disruptions of social orders.  It means that when people engage in a violent act, they have gone against the social rules and this may contribute to more chaos.  As a result of safety reduction and lack of social order, community members' increases mistrust toward the community leadership and law enforcement. People no longer collaborate in maintaining safety as they start a blame game to each other. The community faces pressure from the law enforcement for anti-social behavior whereas the police are blamed for the failure to address the anti-social behaviors (Weisburd et al. 2018). In trying to address the crime issues, the society experience economic costs, and financial burden.

Response to victimization

 Social policies that impact the victim

According to the national victim survey, victims suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, financial burden, and physical hardship (Siegel, 2011). Therefore, the law enforcement agencies and the human service system should coordinate in helping the victim. The following are the policies that are relevant to the victim;

• Victims' compensation-The purpose of the victim compensation program is to pay for damages, medical bills, counseling, burial expenses, and other services (Siegel, 2011).
• Victim Advocates -The purpose of the victim advocate policy is to connect the victim with an advocate who will guide through the court procedures.
• Public Education- The purpose of public education is to help the victim understand the available service and primary prevention programs.
• Crisis intervention - The purpose of crisis intervention is to connect the victim with local networks and social service agencies to gain long-term assistance such as shelter, food, and clothing (Siegel, 2011).  Some victims suffer from depression due to isolation, fear, and anger, the crisis intervention program, connects the victims with community organizations where they receive care and support.
• Victim-offender reconciliation programs -The purpose of the reconciliation program is to connect the victim and offender with the mediator where they hold direct negotiation and achieve reunion (Siegel, 2011).

 

 Conclusion

   In most crimes, law enforcement agencies play a curial role in connecting the victim to the criminal justice system. However,  for further legal processes to be effective, the law enforcement professional need to adhere to the core values and positively treat the victims to build trust, confidence, improve collaboration, and satisfaction.  Necessary skills such as effective communication, empathy, integrity, and confidentiality are needed to create a strong interaction.  It is important to note that in addressing crime, it is important to consider the factors that might have contributed to the victimization to help the victims minimize the victimization or rather change their behaviors.  The paper also finds that crime contributes to personal and social effects. For example, the victim feels angry and develops a problem such as depression.  The society develops a fear of insecurity, failure of the police to control anti-social behaviors, among other effects. However, as law enforcement concentrates on maintaining order in the community, it is also important to remember those affected by the crime and implement the appropriate intervention programs to help them cope with the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Holder H. Erick, Jr (2010). First Response to Victims of Crime: A Guidebook for Law

Enforcement Officers. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for

Victims of Crime.

 

Healy, D. (2019). Exploring victims’ interactions with the criminal justice system: A literature

review. Dublin: Department of Justice and Equality.

 

Siegel, L. J. (2011). Criminology: The core. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.

 

Utech, M. R. (1994). Violence, abuse, and neglect: The American home. Dix Hills, N.Y: General

Hall.

 

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In Weisburd, D., In Majmundar, M. K., National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and

Medicine (U.S.)., National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.)., &

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (U.S.).

(2018). Proactive policing: Effects on crime and communities. National

Academies Press

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