CJ 141
Victims and the Criminal Justice System
Fall 2000
fi=141questionsfa00.htm

QUESTIONS TO ACCOMPANY READINGS

INTRODUCTION

This file is the first of several that lists questions to accompany each set of weekly readings. The readings are arranged sequentially. Following each reading is a list of general questions you want to be able to address. Taking the time to answer these questions should help you do better on the in-class exams. If you have any questions about these questions, let me or the TA (Caroline Ruck) know.

For KARMEN readings, if there are page numbers like this:

66/77

the first numbers refer to 3rd edition, the second numbers to 4th.

If there is NO slash, it refers to the 3rd edition only

If there is #/77 I don't know the number for the 3rd edition but give you the number for the 4th edition

Please be aware I am not saying that the questions appearing on the tests about the readings will be based only on these questions. But there is a good chance that a good number of the readings-based questions will relate closely to the questions you see here.

OVC ONLINE READING
When was the Office for the Victims of Crime (OVC) established? In general, what activities are they involved in? What is the Crime Victims Fund? What is the source of the money going into this fund? How much money are we talking about here? For what purposes are these dollars used? Does OVC deliver any services directly to victims? What kinds of training and assistance does OVC provide to localities? Bearing in mind that this is a federal agency, are there additional activities, beyond those described here, that you think OVC should be involved in? Take a look at the main OVC web page (click on link at bottom of file), click on HELP FOR VICTIMS, then click on CAMPUS CRIME, then click on RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS. Take a look at what comes up. What are your reactions?

KARMEN INTRO AND CHAPTER 1
Why is victimology a dirty word, according to many? What is the misconception behind this view of victimology? (how is an -ology not an -ism?)

What is the original meaning of "victim"? What is Karmen's definition of victimology? Karmen talks about having an "objective" as opposed to "subjective" perspective on victims; why is that "objective stance so difficult to maintain? (Do YOU think it is possible?; What interferes?) What are the reasons Karmen gives for why victimology should not advocate a provictim stance? What kinds of biases does the social scientist bring to the study, despite his/her training? How is victimology different from criminology? How is it similar? Karmen talks about victimology cutting itself off from all of criminology, to study all types of victims; he thinks this is a bad idea. Why? What do you think? Karmen talks about 3 "tendencies" within victimology (p. 17/22); what is each, and how are they different? (IMPORTANT!) What are the steps victimologists follow when carrying out their research? Karmen notes (p. 19) that "membership in the category 'victims' is socially defined and constructed." What does that statement mean to you in plain English? Karmen has a particular "take" on how victims' roles in the criminal justice system has changed historically; what were the reasons behind this shift? According to Karmen, what are the problems with crime reporting and how does this affect how we think about victims and victimization? What are the threads that make up the victims movement? Karmen suggests that there have been several "stages" to the rediscovery of victims; what are those stages? Why is it an "endless" process? What does Karmen mean when he says (p. 38/32) "There is no end in sight to the process of rediscovering victims?" What is your reaction to a statement like that? What is happening with murders of law enforcement officers in the line of duty? (p. 41/34). If you want to get the most up-to-date information, go to this address:

http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/1995/ind/DEATHS.Of_law_enforcement_officers.1.html