International Handbook of Victimology PDF

Preface

In 1973, the First International Symposium on Victimology convened in Jerusalem. The symposium took place under the auspices of the International Society of Criminology with the support of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Tel Aviv, and Bar Ilan University. The symposium brought together scholars across various fields from around the world; they presented papers on theoretical issues in victimology, the response to crime, victims and criminal justice, and processes of victimization. This work appeared in a five-volume collection of papers titled Victimology: A New Focus [1973], edited by Israel Drapkin and Emilio Viano, and has represented for some years the state of international knowledge in victimology.

After 30 years, some issues have remained important areas of interest, and new issues have emerged. Conceptions of victimhood, secondary victimization, hidden victimization, and social services for victims have remained important topics for research and theory. New topics have emerged. Restorative justice has had a major influence on theory, research, and policy in victimology. Government-sponsored crime victimization surveys, which began in the early 1970s, now represent a valuable source of information about victimization processes. Compensation and restitution schemes have operated for decades in a number of countries, and victims' rights have become enacted into law. To reflect these essential and emerging issues, we have put together the International Handbook of Victimology.

This handbook brings together leading scholars from around the world reflecting the state of the art in victimology. Each of these has been specifically commissioned based on recognized expertise in the field. Contributors come from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They bring disciplinary expertise in criminology, sociology, psychology, law, and philosophy. Some revisit the core of victimology; others present new issues at the cutting edge. Collectively, they provide an outstanding one-volume source for victimology, and we are pleased to be able to present their work.

The handbook is arranged into six sections. Section I provides an overview of theoretical and historical frameworks used in the study of victimology. The chapters examine philosophical and historical conceptions of the victim, discuss the meaning of justice for victims, and review the history of victimology as a field of study. Section II deals with advances in research methods. Chapters introduce approaches to research concerning repeat victimization, what can be learned from the International Crime Victim Survey, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) technology in understanding victimization. Section III explains patterns of victimization. This section includes discussions of secondary victimization, drugs and alcohol in relation to victimization, victims of sex trafficking, victimization in workplaces, and issues related to tourism and victimization. Section IV concerns responses to victimization, including victims and criminal justice, victims' rights, victim support services, and fear of crime. Section V considers current issues in restorative justice. Chapters deal with victim–off ender relationships, conceptions of healing, the value of apology in reparation, and the usefulness of restorative justice in transitional societies. Section VI examines victims and social divisions: hidden victimization (of women) and domestic violence, victimization in relation to disability, victimization in relation to mental health populations, and victims in relation to social services.

This handbook would not have been possible without the eff orts of a number of people. To all the contributors, we would like to say that we have appreciated working with you on this project. We would like to thank Carolyn Spence and Jessica Vakili at Taylor & Francis Group for believing in the book and seeing it through to publication. We also thank Hemdat Libbi Israeli for impressive coordination, undying enthusiasm, and professional assistance in every way. Finally, we take this opportunity to dedicate this volume to the memory of Gerald Cromer. Gerald was on the staff at Bar-Ilan University. He planned to contribute a chapter to this book, but, sadly, he died several months into the project.