Understanding Victimology : an Active-Learning Approach

222 Pages·2020·3.92 MB·English

by  Clevenger

Understanding Victimology
Understanding Victimology: An Active-Learning Approach explains what the field of victimology is—including its major
theoretical perspectives and research methods—and provides insight into the dynamics of various offline and online crimes
from the victims’ vantage point. It is the only textbook to provide numerous innovative active-learning exercises to enhance
and reinforce student learning, and it addresses important contemporary topics that have thus far not been covered by
other victimology texts, including identity theft, hate crimes, and terrorism. This unique and relevant work is ideal for
students, academics, and practitioners who are interested in a comprehensive introduction to victimology.
Dr. Shelly Clevenger is an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University in the Criminal Justice Sciences Department. She
has authored peer-reviewed journal publications and books on the topics of sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, and
cybervictimization. Dr. Clevenger presented her research at the United Nations Women in New York City in December 2016.
She has also done speaking engagements throughout the state of Illinois on her work and activism. Dr. Clevenger is also the
recipient of the 2016 Feminist Criminology Article of the Year Award. She has two other forthcoming books, Teaching Theory
and Gendering Criminology: Crime and Justice Today. She has also been recognized for her teaching in these areas by Illinois
State University with both college and university Faculty Teacher of the Year Awards; the 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year
Award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Victimology; and the 2017 Teacher of the Year Award from ASC’s
Division of Critical Criminology and Social Justice.
Dr. Jordana N. Navarro is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at The Citadel. Dr. Navarro grew up in south Florida
where she aspired to a career in law enforcement. After studying sociology at the University of Central Florida, Dr. Navarro
developed a passion for understanding victimization perpetrated both offline and online.
Dr. Catherine D. Marcum is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Appalachian State University. Dr. Marcum grew
up in West Virginia and aspired to a career in higher education. Her research interests include cybercrime victimization
and offending, sexual victimization, and correctional issues. As of the publication date of this text, she has authored or
coauthored over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles and 10 books in her areas of expertise.
Dr. George E. Higgins is a Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Louisville. Dr. Higgins
received his Ph.D. in Criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2001. His research focuses on testing criminological
theories. Dr. Higgins publishes consistently with students and colleagues from around the world.
“This is the most dynamic victimology text on the market. It is truly intersectional and comprehensive in its treatment
of victims, contains hands-on active learning exercises that increase understanding and empathy, and provides great
information for future practitioners of every stripe. I’ve been looking for this text for 20 years.”
—Elicka Peterson Sparks, Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University
Understanding
Victimology
An Active-Learning Approach
Shelly Clevenger, Jordana N. Navarro,
Catherine D. Marcum, and
George E. Higgins
First published 2018
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2018 Taylor & Francis
The right of Shelly Clevenger, Jordana N. Navarro, Catherine D. Marcum,
and George E. Higgins to be identified as authors of this work has been
asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
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Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Clevenger, Shelly, author.
Title: Understanding victimology : an active-learning approach /
Shelly Clevenger [and three others].
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2018. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017048658 | ISBN 9780815399902 (hardback) |
ISBN 9781498772846 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Victims of crimes.
Classification: LCC HV6250.25 .C625 2018 | DDC 362.88—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017048658
ISBN: 978-0-8153-9990-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-4987-7284-6 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-15157-1 (ebk)
Typeset in Frutiger
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Visit the eResource: www.routledge.com/9781498772846
I dedicate this book to all of the victimology students I have had over the years who have taught me so much!
In addition, I dedicate it to two former students who have changed my life in so many wonderful ways: Kelsie
Langheim and Mia Gilliam. If I ever needed them, they were “always” there in a “flash!” Shelly Clevenger
I would like to dedicate this textbook to my family, who remain steadfast sources of support in my career.
Jordana Navarro
I dedicate this book to so many of my students, past and present, who demonstrated bravery in the face of so
many struggles and challenges. Cathy Marcum
I dedicate this book to my family and my students (past, present, and future). George Higgins

Contents
Preface viii
1 Introduction to Victimology 1
2 Theories of Victimization 20
3 Victims’ Rights and Remedies 39
4 Hybrid and Online Victimization 67
5 Personal and Property Victimization 87
6 Rape, Sexual Assault, and Kidnapping 111
7 Intimate Partner Violence 133
8 School and Work Victimization 154
9 Victimization of Special Populations 173
10 Hate Crimes and Terrorism 188
Index 203
Preface
The privilege of working in the criminal justice community is interaction with a variety
of stakeholders, such as judges, probation officers, and, of course, offenders. How-
ever, there are others who play an integral part of the system, yet are often overlooked
in the process of trying to punish and treat the offenders: the victims. Victims of crime
include every combination of race, sex, religion, age, and sexual orientation. They
range from the highly educated to someone with barely a third-grade education. They
are white-collar or blue-collar workers, or the unemployed. Furthermore, victims of
crime can also be offenders as well.
The purpose of this text is to explore the world of victimology through the lens
of not only who is victimized but also how they are victimized. In addition, our text
will discuss the history of victim advocacy and what we are doing now to help victims
of crime, and what is still left to do. Most importantly, we want students to be able
to critically apply this information through active learning exercises. We understand
that instructors will choose to teach this class in very different ways, and there are
online resources available to them to accomplish various goals. Some of the students
who use this book will become victim advocates, and some may have other direct or
indirect interactions with victims of various types of crime. Our goal is to help them
emerge from this literature with better insight into this strong, yet fragile group of
individuals who deserve a voice.
Chapter 1
Introduction to Victimology
Keywords
 Assistance-oriented Victimology
 Criminology
 Critical Victimology
 Feminists
 General Victimology
 Interactionist
 Victimology
 Penal Victimology
 Positivist Victimology
 Radical Victimology
 Victim Blaming
 Victim Facilitation
 Victim Precipitation
 Victim Provocation
Introduction
Benjamin Mendelsohn, often referred to as the father of victimology, describes the field
as “the science of victims and victimity. By victimity, we mean the general concept,