Victimization

         Crime theory  for the most part has been focused solely on why people are criminals, or what compels  them to commit crimes; but recently criminologists have directed their focus onto the victims point of view. It seems very reasonable, knowing both sides can give more insight into why certain people are targeted as victims, and why criminals single out these certain kind of people. 

         Victims and their relationship between the Justice system could be described as "Complicated." Now I know that a lot of people might disagree with that and say "The Justice System puts those criminals away in jail!" But the truth is the Justice system doesn't do the best job of comforting the victim (Even though they do their best.) Think of this though, you were just on the receiving end of a 1st degree assault, your on the road bloody and beaten. A man walks by and sees you lying their so he obviously calls the police. When the police get there your bombarded with questions. "What happend?" "What did the attacker look like?" "Why are you out walking by yourself?" "Can you tell us the full story of what transpired?" I bet you that your going to feel a little overwhelmed, maybe even embarrassed? You might think it was your fault that you became the victim of this crime. What will your friends and family say? Will they be ashamed? The cops want you to come and answer more questions, then they say they need you to ID a man in a line up! Your thinking "Oh Crap! I have to see this guy again. Then what will happen? I will have to go to court and testify in public and tell everyone what happened!"  This could all be pretty scary if your a first time Victim, and that's the point I'm making about the Justice System. You might think its all good and dandy and they catch the bad guy and its all over, but that's not the case. The Police and courts make you relive the moments of the crime, they make you tell the story over and over. Having to relive that moment may cause Victims a great amount of mental stress. Some Victims of crime are so traumatized or scared they might not even want to tell any one that something happend. Victims go through this "Re-Victimization" by the Justice System cause's short and long term problems. Stress and Fear are a big one, Victims will isolate or confine themselves so they feel safe, and feel as if no criminal will get them ever again. They can become paranoid, agitated, depressed, certain noises could trigger traumatic memories. Post Traumatic stress Disorder, OCD, Schizophrenia, and many other mental illnesses have been directly linked to being the Victim of a violent crime. These illnesses can take years to get over, even with counseling many Victims cant make peace with what happened to them.   Having to spend so much time with the police and in courts can take time away from work and family. Being so stressed out,  or scared leads to isolationism which could cause you to not want to even go to work, or not go the extra mile to apply for jobs, go out with friends, and can stop peoples social lives very swiftly. Crime takes a heavy tole on the victim very soon after, and even long after the crime has been done.

          Leobardo Gamez of Phoenix was charged with breaking and entering on November 29th. He smashed through the living room window and allegedly held a gun to the head of a young boy in the house. Police were able to calm the man down and subdue him, Gamez claimed he was running for his life from a Mexican drug cartel boss who's wife Gamez apparently "shacked up with." The members of this family have since left the state. These people obviously experienced a very scary event. A man smashed through their front window and put a gun to a young boys head. The family is most likely paranoid and fearful that this could happen again. A statement was published from the father of the boy saying "I watched a man hold a pistol to my sons head, I thought that would be my last memory of him." Now you can see that this is a very serious traumatic event for this family, and it isn't something that you can forget about the next day. I can only imagine the fear that young boy goes through every day, and the amount of precautions this family is making speaks the the emotional stress they are facing. Moving states, and the Family has bought an expensive securtiy alarm for their new house . This story is just an example of the severe mental, emotional, and financial effects that crime has on vitcims.

Colton DeRycke.