Crime is one of the main challenges that countries struggle to deal with today. In some nations, the number of crimes being committed has increased significantly. The increase may be attributed to a wide range of factors such as poor living environment, poverty, and social structures. It is against this reason that attempts have been made to study the issue of crime and find out ways through which it can be addressed (Petherick, 2017). One of the areas that experts and scholars have focused on when exploring the issue of crime is victimization. Attempts have been made to develop and use different kinds of theories to explain the subject of victimization. An example of such a theory is the Victim Precipitation Model. The term victim precipitation was first used by Wolfgang to talk about cases where victims were exposed to certain crimes because they were the initial aggressor of the act that led to a given loss or harm. It is worth stating that the victim precipitation theory did not only exist in the research works that were being done by Wolfgang (Petherick, 2017). Instead, it was also featured in the projects done by other scholars to explore how provocative actions would result in a given crime. Furthermore, attempts were made to explain how provocative victims would encourage others to engage in crime. In this regard, the victim precipitation model emerged as a concept that would help explain the characteristics of victims that would entice offenders to commit a specific time of the crime. The aim of this paper is to explore the concept of victim precipitation and the way it helps in the understanding of crimes committed in a given area.
Victim Precipitation
The early typologies of victimization highlighted the role of precipitation when it comes to the understanding of crimes. In addition, it was used by lawyers and other crime experts to show the responsibility of victims in the crimes that are committed in society. In some way, it can be deduced that the concept was being used to mitigate the actions of criminals and help law enforcement officers to make valid decisions when it comes to the sentencing of offenders (Suonpää & Savolainen, 2019). Griffiths, Yule, and Gartner (2012) stated that the precipitation model offers an excellent justification for the development of new theories that can examine the link between crime and offenders. In addition, it is used as the basis for exploring criminal-victim relationships as well as the understanding of crime judgment. The early attempts were characterized by the emphasis on assigning criminal responsibility to victims. In addition, it helps in addressing the negative stigma that had been attached to the victims and criminals. This was true for the victim advocates since it helped them show how certain actions may increase the risk of a crime. A review of existing literature further shows that their victim precipitation model usually revolves around the concept of victim-offender duality (Petherick, 2017). The dyad relationship that exists in the theory offers an excellent basis for determining how offenders and victims interacted in the course of a crime. It is undeniable that there are a number of cases where the crime would have occurred even if the victim did not engage in any action. Furthermore, literature shows that there are many instances where the crime would have not occurred if the victim did not take any step or action. Therefore, it is not easy to ignore the reality of the victim-offender duality. As a result, victim precipitation has become an excellent basis for exploring and understanding criminal events in society.
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Researchers have taken different approaches when analyzing crime. Petherick (2017), for instance, stated that victim precipitation has been a controversial theory that asserts that victims have a role when it comes to initiating a crime. The author stated that the actions of the victims may influence the way offenders act in a given circumstance. Therefore, it is imperative to explore and analyze the way the concept has been studied in previous literature. In this case, Petherick (2017) analyzes the reasons why it is important to expand the precipitation theory through research and discourse. A thorough examination of research and literature revealed that there is evidence showing that the precipitation theory is important within the discipline of criminology and victimology. Moreover, it has been used as the basis for reducing cases of misplaced criticism of victims when may have been involved in actions that result in increased chances of a crime. The authors also stated that through the theory of precipitation, it is possible to develop a better understanding of the role that victims usually play in the course of the crime being committed. The information gathered through the use of the theory can also be used to reduce the chances of victimization and revictimization.
Suonpää and Savolainen (2019) also conducted a study to examine the concept of victimization and how it can be understood through the concept of victim precipitation. The authors stated that there have been increasing cases of many women being killed by their intimate partners because of the actions that they engage in from time to time. It is against this background that the authors conducted a study using administrative data obtained from the Finland Homicide Monitor. The authors created a topology of homicide incidences in the region to explore the variations that occur across the victim precipitation environment (Suonpää & Savolainen, 2019). In this case, the focus was on primary factors that included gender of the victim, gender of the offender, and intimacy of the offender and the victim relationship. The data collected during the study showed that there was a significant link between the risk of a crime and the actions of the offenders. In addition, the results showed strong support that killing by women of their male partners was likely to take place in the instances where there was victim precipitation. The results further revealed that there was a significant difference in victim precipitation among various types of homicides. For instance, it was stated that there was no difference in the victim precipitation in homicide cases that did not involve intimate partners. To some extent, the above findings tend to contradict previous studies that have shown that victim precipitation was always a general feature in female-linked killings. Despite this being the case, the researchers were able to show that the actions of partners can increase the chance of the other partner engaging in a crime.
Muftic and Hunt (2013) also conducted a study to explore the overlap between offending and victimization. The authors stated that the victim precipitated homicide has been a major challenge around the world. However, there is a gap in literature on how the victim precipitation model could be used to explore the relationship. It is against this background that the authors conducted a study using data obtained from official police records to study victimization. The study focused on crimes that had been committed in Dallas Texas. The authors conducted a multivariate and bivariate analysis that revolved around the criminal history of the subjects. The results indicated that victim precipitated homicides were a common feature that existed in Texas. Therefore, there was a need to carry out further investigations to determine how the problem could be addressed. There has been considerable support in the literature that homicides that involve partners can be prevented when there is no victim precipitation. Furthermore, the results of the studies have shown that issues such as physical confrontation could motivate offenders to engage in serious crimes with significant legal implications. Yourstone, Lindholm, and Kristiansson (2008) also found out that 51 percent of female offenders were likely to have been motivated by the actions of their victims compared to 14 percent of female offenders who engaged in homicides. In particular, the researchers found out that these people were likely to commit homicide differences after being abused physically by their victims. In another study that was conducted by Jordan et al. (2012), it was reported that about 66 percent of female offenders and 2 percent of male offenders engaged in crime after life-threatening violence from the victims. Some of these offenders committed lethal violence crimes after physical, psychological, and sexual abuse from their intimate partners. The results of the investigations further provide that those who are involved in crime usually react to the actions of the victims. When the offenders get angry, they may end up using lethal and life-threatening force on their victims. The trend can result in death and physical harm to the victims.
Petherick (2016) opined that studies that have been done to explore the subject of victim precipitation have provided sufficient evidence suggesting the need to rethink the approaches that are being used to prevent crime. The author remarked that for a long time, it had been assumed that offenders are people who decide to engage in certain crimes out of their volition. Others have argued that the offenders are usually motivated by the need to get certain benefits by taking part in a crime. Through the victim precipitation model, however, researchers have shown that there is more to crime than the needs of the offenders. In particular, the authors argued that crime can be prevented by encouraging victims to avoid engaging in actions that may place them at risk of a crime. The process entails living in a secure environment and avoiding actions and talks that may motivate the offenders to commit a crime. Hussin and Zawawi (2012) also explored the subject of criminal victimization by a focus on the precipitation theory. The authors stated that working and living in a safe environment can improve productivity and ensure the safety of a community. To achieve such objectives, it is imperative for the public authorizes to address the rising cases of crime and protect people from being victimized. One of the reasons why victimization occurs is the actions of the victims towards the offender. Hussin and Zawawi (2012) opined that the victim precipitation theory can provide a basis for creating programs that are used to enlighten members of the public on ways of reducing the risk of victimization. For instance, the members of a community need to be advised against engaging in a physical confrontation that can put them at risk of being victimized.
Britton (2000) stated that the victim precipitation theory usually revolves around the role of victims in the crimes that happen in the community. Recent trends have revealed that considerable importance has been given to the role of victim precipitation theory in the working of the criminal justice system. However, researchers are yet to answer the question of how the model should be applied to all cases of violence, including robbery and rape (Britton, 2000). Presently, the history and development of the theory has been studied extensively. In addition, the studies have shown that having a fair criminal justice system requires the consideration of both the roles of the offender and those of the victim in the happening of a crime. Britton (2000) further noted that the supporters of the victim precipitation theory have strived to argue that offenders are usually culpable and can commit a crime following the precipitated tendencies of their victims. It is against this background that the authors conducted a study to determine the implications of victim precipitation theory within the context of rape. The study involves reviewing the literature on the subject and analyzing the crime trends reported by the victimology authorities. Based on the data collected, the authors stated that even as attempts are being made to transform the criminal justice system, there is still evidence revealing that judges strive to show sensitivity towards the victims of rape. The sensitivity is usually shown regardless of whether there was precipitated victimization. In addition, the authors stated that the personality and actions of the victims were a major factor that influences their risk of being victims of rape.
Conclusion
The concept of victim precipitation has been a topic of discussion within the field of criminal justice. In addition, scholars have strived to examine the development of the concept and its application in various cases. Overall, there is sufficient evidence showing that victim precipitation theory is a model that can be used to analyze crime trends in society. Moreover, researchers have found out that the actions that the victim engage in before a given crime increase the risk of their victimization. In most instances, the researchers have focused on the link between factors like physical violence and the risk of crimes such as rape and assault. Therefore, the model offers an important platform that can be used to study crime patterns in the society. In addition, it can be used to inform the policies that are being created to prevent cases of victimization in the community.
References
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