Criminal Victimization

Criminal victimization can be defined as being harmed by crime, which may appear straightforward but, until late in the twentieth century, individuals harmed by crime were largely ignored by criminal justice agencies and the public in many Western countries. This entry will discuss how the victims’ rights movement successfully brought victims’ issues to the attention of the government and the criminal justice system. Additionally, it will report on the measurement and prevalence of criminal victimization, before discussing the consequences it can have for those who experience it. These consequences may be financial, physical, or psychological; they might be short-lived or long-lasting, and are felt by more than those who experience it directly.