Victimology and Victim Services
The study of victims and the practical work of supporting them, for a two-year associate degree in criminal justice: what victimology is and how the field grew from early theories of victim precipitation to today's rights-based, trauma-informed approach; who becomes a victim, including lifestyle and routine activities explanations, vulnerability and repeat victimization; measuring victimization with the National Crime Victimization Survey and police-reported data, and why much crime is never reported; trauma and its effects, including crisis reactions, the stress response, memory and recovery; trauma-informed first response, interviewing and the avoidance of secondary victimization; the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act, Ohio's Marsy's Law and Revised Code chapter 2930; victims in the court process, including notice, the right to be present and heard, protective orders and victim impact statements; police-based, prosecutor-based and community victim services, the Victims of Crime Act and how to make a good referral; the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program, restitution and civil remedies; victims with particular needs, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, immigrants, Native American victims and victims of hate crime; and restorative justice and victim-offender dialogue. The course follows the fictional Port Ardent police department, its victim services partners and a cohort of students, and ends with a victim-focused review of three case files, with runnable Python examples throughout.
LES-115 Year 1 3 credits 12 lessons · 3 h 58 min ▶ Video lessons coming soon
Offered by HSM University · Law Enforcement Studies
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Explain what victimology studies, how the field developed from theories of victim precipitation to a rights-based, trauma-informed approach, and why explaining risk must never become blaming victims.
- Apply lifestyle exposure, routine activities and vulnerability explanations to patterns of victimization, and use knowledge of repeat victimization to prevent further harm.
- Interpret victimization data from the National Crime Victimization Survey and police-reported statistics, including reporting rates and the reasons victims do not report.
- Describe the effects of trauma on the body, behavior and memory, the common reactions of victims after a crime, and the factors that help or hinder recovery.
- Provide a trauma-informed first response and interview that gives victims safety, information and choice, and avoids secondary victimization.
- Explain the rights of victims under the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act, Ohio's Marsy's Law and Revised Code chapter 2930, and carry out the duties these laws place on police.
- Support victims through the court process, including release conditions, court preparation, testimonial aids, plea consultation and victim impact statements.
- Describe police-based, court-based, community-based and government victim services, and make proactive, well-explained referrals.
- Help victims pursue financial recovery through the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program, restitution, civil remedies and other sources.
- Recognize and respond to the particular needs of children, older adults, people with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous and Native victims, and victims of hate crime.
- Explain the principles, forms and evidence of restorative justice, and the conditions that make it safe and voluntary for victims.
- Review a case file from the victim's point of view, identify gaps in victim care and recommend practical improvements.
Course content
12 lessons · 3 h 58 min total · final exam
- 1 Victimology: the study of victims and their place in criminal justice 21 min · quiz
- 2 Who becomes a victim: risk, vulnerability and repeat victimization 20 min · quiz
- 3 Measuring victimization: the National Crime Victimization Survey and reporting to police 20 min · quiz
- 4 Trauma and its effects: crisis reactions, stress and recovery 20 min · quiz
- 5 Trauma-informed first response and avoiding secondary victimization 20 min · quiz
- 6 Victims' rights: the Crime Victims' Rights Act and Marsy's Law 20 min · quiz
- 7 Victims in the court process: information, protection and impact statements 19 min · quiz
- 8 Victim services: police-based, community and court-based programs 20 min · quiz
- 9 Financial recovery: compensation, restitution and civil remedies 19 min · quiz
- 10 Victims with particular needs: children, older adults, people with disabilities and newcomers 20 min · quiz
- 11 Restorative approaches: restorative justice and victim-offender dialogue 19 min · quiz
- 12 Capstone: a victim-focused review of three Port Ardent files 20 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
The study of victims and the practical work of supporting them, for a two-year associate degree in criminal justice: what victimology is and how the field grew from early theories of victim precipitation to today's rights-based, trauma-informed approach; who becomes a victim, including lifestyle and routine activities explanations, vulnerability and repeat victimization; measuring victimization with the National Crime Victimization Survey and police-reported data, and why much crime is never reported; trauma and its effects, including crisis reactions, the stress response, memory and recovery; trauma-informed first response, interviewing and the avoidance of secondary victimization; the federal Crime Victims' Rights Act, Ohio's Marsy's Law and Revised Code chapter 2930; victims in the court process, including notice, the right to be present and heard, protective orders and victim impact statements; police-based, prosecutor-based and community victim services, the Victims of Crime Act and how to make a good referral; the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program, restitution and civil remedies; victims with particular needs, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, immigrants, Native American victims and victims of hate crime; and restorative justice and victim-offender dialogue. The course follows the fictional Port Ardent police department, its victim services partners and a cohort of students, and ends with a victim-focused review of three case files, with runnable Python examples throughout.
Part of the Law stream, typically taken in year 1.