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Forensic Victimology 2nd Edition. Chapter Seven: Victim Situational Exposure. Victim Situational Exposure.
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Forensic Victimology 2nd Edition Chapter Seven: Victim Situational Exposure
Victim Situational Exposure • Victim situational exposure is the amount of actual exposure or vulnerability experienced by the victim to harm, resulting from their environment and personal traits, at the time of victimization. • This is distinct from lifestyle exposure, which refers to harmful events that exist, generally in a victim’s everyday life.
Notable Situational Factors • There are many situational factors commonly understood to increase victim exposure and vulnerability to various forms of harm. • The following are examples: • Victim lifestyle exposure (refer to previous chapter) • Consecutive and concurrent victims. • Consecutive victims – those who have suffered multiple incidents of victimization during different time frames. • Concurrent victims – those who have suffered two or more crimes during the same period of time – sometimes during the same incident.
Notable Situational Factors • Continued: • Time of occurrence • Location of occurrence • Proximity to criminal activity • Proximity to criminal activity, violent or aggressive individuals • Number of potential victims • Availability of weapons • Care and supervision • Victim state of mind/perception • Drug and alcohol use • Engaging in violent of aggressive behavior
Interpreting Situational Exposure • The purpose of classifying victim situational exposure is to understand the victim’s lifestyle and circumstances so that exposure may be fully understood.
Interpreting Situational Exposure • Low situational exposure victims • Those who are exposed to little or no actual harm or loss immediately prior to victimization. • Medium situational exposure victims • Those who are somewhat exposed to the possibility of suffering harm or loss immediately prior to victimization. • High situational exposure victims • Those who are routinely exposed to the possibility of suffering harm or loss. • Extreme situational exposure describes the state of being a victim.