This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
For much of its history criminology has been concerned with the offender and the victim was largely absent from criminological discourse, research and the criminal justice process. It was not until the early 20th century that criminologists [re] discovered the victim and began to consider the role they played in the commission of crime. From these initial investigations, the victim became the central focus of academic scholarship from which the discipline 'victimology' emerged. The victim is no longer considered to be 'a bit part player' in understanding crime. They are deemed to be central to crime detection and the prosecution of criminal acts. This module charts the birth and growth of victimology and considers some of its major theoretical concepts. It will explore the nature and extent of criminal victimisation in society and critically examine it from a number of different perspectives. The module will also examine the changing role of the victim within the criminal justice system.
Total contact hours: 22
Private study hours: 128
Total study hours: 150
BA Criminal Justice and Criminology and BSc Social Sciences
Main assessment methods
Essay (2500 words) - 50%
Examination, 2 hour - 50%
Reassessment methods
Reassessment Instrument: 100% coursework
Augustina, J. R. (2015) Understanding Cyber Victimisation: Digital Architectures and the Disinhibition Effect. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, Vol. 9 (1) January 2015.
Davies, P. (2011) Gender, Crime and Victimisation. London: Sage Publications
Davies. P. and Francis, P. (2014) Invisible Crime and Social Harms Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillian
Karmen, A. (2015) Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology Boston: Cengage Learning.
Vanfraechem, I., Pemberton, A., & Ndahinda, F.M. (2014) Justice for Victims: Perspectives on Rights, transition and reconciliation Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Walklate, S. (2013) Victimology: The Victim and the Criminal Justice Process Oxon: Routledge
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of classical and contemporary debates on victims of crime, including the intersections between age, gender, race, ethnicity and class.
8.2 Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of key political and theoretical debates within the study of victimology, including questions of inequality, and be able to apply these to criminology and other criminal justice areas.
8.3 Demonstrate an ability to critically appraise the criminal justice response to victims of crime and evaluate the impact of national and international responses.
8.4 Demonstrate knowledge of conceptual approaches to research into victimisation and how these translate into criminal justice policy and practice.
8.5 Demonstrate an ability to identify and evaluate empirical political and academic material on victimisation including primary and secondary qualitative and quantitative research, and relate this to theoretical debates within victimology.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Effectively compare and contrast different kinds of empirical research.
9.2 Understand and effectively apply differing theoretical positions to aid in the analysis of a complex subject matter.
9.3 Locate and assess academic and policy sources to develop a balanced argument.
9.4 Synthesise key conceptual arguments coherently in written form.
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