CJS 355: VICTIMOLOGY: THEORY TO APPLICATION

This course is designed to introduce students to the topic of victimology, the scientific study of victims. Although at least one pioneer in the field, Benjamin Mendelsohn, argues that the term "victimology" should encompass a broad spectrum of "victims", this course will focus only on criminal victimization. While traditionally, criminologists and criminal justice professionals have focused on the offendere and the criminal justice system, it is only recently that they have begun to examine the victim, the forgotten member of the criminal process. In this course, we will examine the field of victimology, including its scope and development, review the problems associated with victimization, examiine the relationship between the victim and the offender, the victim and the criminal justice system, and the victim and society. We will also discuss various practical applications and policies that have resulted from society's increasing concern about victims.