CJ333 Family and Domestic Violence

CJ333 Family and Domestic Violence Unit 4 - Victimization: Survivors and Consequences Christine Wallace, Instructor IMPORTANT NOTE: This course uses ‘1-way’ audio in the classroom. The instructor will be speaking as well typing course related information. Please make sure that you have your speakers turned on. Sound will begin at the start of class.

About this unit: • This unit introduces the movement that has brought victimization to the forefront of the domestic violence discussion, primarily the children's rights and battered women's movements. It also addresses gender myths that isolate the gay, lesbian, and transsexual communities, making victim reporting more difficult for these populations.

To complete this unit: • Read Chapter 7 – Intimate Partner Violence • Read Chapter 8 – Gay and Lesbian Partner Abuse • Respond to the Discussion Board • Attend the Seminar (or complete the alternate assignment)

Question: What is victimology?

Victimology: • Victimology is the study of victimization, including the relationships between victims and offenders, the interactions between victims and the criminal justice system – which includes the police and courts, and corrections officials -- and the connections between victims and other societal groups and institutions, such as the media, businesses, and social movements

The social science approach of conducting research and expanding theory on the causes of criminal behavior ultimately was responsible for bringing the victim back into focus. • That criminology specialty concerned with the role of the victim is called victimology.

SCENARIOWhy Some Women Choose to Stay . . . Cindy fell deeply in love with Jim and they married; it was her second marriage. She had two children by her first husband and one more since she and Jim married. They own their own home and both hold professional jobs. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, things started getting tense. Cindy felt like she was walking on eggshells because Jim would get angry about the most insignificant things. One day he flew into a rage and hit her; he pulled her across the room by her hair. Afterward he was so sorry, he promised to change. He bought her a gift. Things got really good, like when they had first met—it was great! About 10 months later, he started getting cranky again . . . Question: What theory best describes this scenario? What will likely happen next?

Question: Do you think that the role of the victim is even important? Or should we just focus on the fact that the person was a victim?

Key Terms: • Intimate Partner Violence – Violence is committed by a current or former spouse, opposite-sex cohabiting partner, same-sex cohabitating partner, date, or boyfriend/girlfriend. • Battering – Repetitive pattern of behavior that is intended to gain power and control over a person.

Victim characteristics and behaviors became a primary focus that was believed to facilitate criminal behavior in the view called victim precipitation. It involves the degree to which the victim is responsible for his or her own victimization.

One of the most controversial sub-topics within the broader topic is victimization is the concept of "victim-proneness“. Victim-proneness is a "highly moralistic way of assigning guilt" to the victim of a crime, also known as victim-blaming .

Marvin Wolf-gang pioneered this approach when he used homicide data to develop a theory on victim involvement in homicide. Can anyone tell us what he believed?

''victim-precipitated homicides'' • Marvin Wolfgang concluded that victims were more likely to die at the hands of someone they knew rather than those of a complete stranger. Do you agree with this belief? Explain why or why not.

Another thought: • One theory, the environmental theory, suggests that the location and context of the crime gets the victim of the crime and the perpetrator of that crime together. That may just be an academic way of stating that the victim was in the “wrong place at the wrong time”.

Important note: The idea that a murder victim may in a way cause his or her own death is controversial.

Cycle of Violence Theory

Question: What was the victim’s movement? Was it a good thing? Why or why not?

The victim’s movement: The momentum for a victims movement gained strength towards the end of the 70s decade as the spread of random violence ravaged the countryside. It was not by chance that as the nation’s crime rate hit an all time peak, victim activist groups began to spring up both to support traumatized victims and to protest what they considered abuses in the criminal justice system.

Some examples. . . There are many, many, more! Betty Jane Spencer, whose four boys were murdered in a bloody massacre in her home became the focal point for Protect the Innocent. Charlotte Hullinger, whose daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, reached out to others who were in pain through Parents of Murdered Children. Candy Lightner, whose daughter was killed in a drunk driving crash, formed Mothers Against Drunk Driving to lead legislative battles to reform state and national laws on drinking and driving.

Can you name other victim rights organizations that you are familiar with?

Two major parts of the victim’s movement was the Children’s rights movement and the battered women’s movement.

Battered Women’s Movement: The battered women’s movement was about seeking social change and to empower both women and children. What were some of the accomplishment of the movement?

Accomplishments: • Victims were identified – 85% are female • Heightened public awareness • Protection and prevention efforts • Batterers programs , including education

One of the unintended consequence of the battered women’s movement has been increased awareness of violence that occurs against lesbian and gay partners, as well as males. Why is this important?

Hotlines and Shelters are important for victim safety. Most of these shelters are for females – do you have shelters in your area for male victims? Why are there not many of these resources?

Most of the victims of domestic violence are females – why?

Children’s rights movement Children’s right movement – we discussed issues in chapter 2 about children’s rights, etc. One of the things we learned is that domestic violence is criminal behavior that affects the children as well as the adult being victimized.

Special Victim Groups: • Children • Gay and Lesbians

Question: Are children who witness domestic violence victims? Explain your answer.

The issues with children witnessing domestic violence deals with indirect abuse. This type of abuse places children at greater risk for psychological, behavioral, social and educational problems.

Also, remember that the effects of abuse are long lasting and children may suffer the effect long after the abuse occurs. Can you think of some examples of the long lasting effects we may see in abused children?

Research shows that there is a strong link between partner violence and child abuse. As many as half a million children are encountered by police during domestic violence arrests.

There is the suggestion that violence by husbands against their wives spills over onto daughters – Why might this be true?

Voice of Children

Child victims are at greater risk of becoming offenders themselves. Being abused or neglected increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 59%, as an adult by 28% and of arrest for a violent crime as an adult by 30% (Widom & Maxfield, 2001).

Another important statistic – both boys and girls are evidenced in the higher rates of criminal activity due to victimization.

Gay and Lesbians: Questions: • Why would your sexual orientation matter when addressing issues of domestic violence? • What makes this these victims different?

Summary: No one deserves to be a victim! However, due to the victim’s rights movement, there are numerous organizations dedicated to help victims get the services and protection that they deserve. Are there any questions or comments?

CJ333 Family and Domestic Violence