CMY3705 - Victimology Full Exam Pack.

CMY3705 - Victimology Full Exam Pack. SECTION A: PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS 1. Provide a critical definition of the concept “Secondary Victimisation” (5) Secondary victimisation is the ill-informed, insensitive, blaming treatment of victims by officials, friends, family, or the community. Secondary victimisation is also known as post crime victimisation or double victimisation, and can often have an even greater effect on the victim than the initial crime itself. Secondary victimisation often starts when the victim reports the crime to the police. An example of secondary victimisation by an official would be when a rape victim reports the rape at the police station, and is faced with disbelief that the crime occurred. An example of secondary victimisation by friends, family members, or the community would be when the victim’s parents make statements such as “What did you expect would happen if you walked alone at night while wearing such revealing clothes?” 2. Explain what internet exploitation and youth internet victimisation is for vulnerable children who are victimised by predators. (10) Virtual violence refers to violence that is not physically experienced, but can have a lasting psycho-social effect. Virtual violence in entertainment includes television, music, film, video, computer games, and the internet. Virtual violence is exacerbated by children accessing internet sites that are age inappropriate, such as pornography websites and websites that promote hate and violence; children being misled and bombarded with intense advertising; children being lured into providing personal and household information to strangers; and the ease with which bullies can get hold of their victims. The internet does not only contribute to the victimisation of young children, but can also facilitate crimes and antisocial behaviour, including sexual solicitation, unwanted exposure to sexual material, and harassment. The internet provides sexual predators with the perfect medium through which to find victims. Predators slowly “groom” their victims by befriending them, sharing personal information, and even by giving gifts. Once the child/teenager trusts the predator, he/she can be coerced into meeting and engaging in sexual acts. 3. Describe the various types of domestic violence in a violent/abusive family context (15) Physical abuse: Downloaded by: thestudyshack | Distribution of this document is illegal Downloaded by: jesscoburn | Distribution of this document is illegal S S - The study-notes marketplace S - The study-notes marketplace - The study-notes marketplace Physical abuse is the use of force or threat of force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. Signs of physical abuse may be external (bruises, bleeding, wincing, etc.), internal (bone fractures, bleeding, internal tissue or organ injuries, etc.), or both. Some believe that “normal” acts of force (pushing, shoving, etc.) should be distinguished from “abnormal” acts of violence (life-threatening abusive acts), although this separation might be difficult to define. Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse is also known as emotional battering, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, non-physical abuse, indirect abuse, psychological aggression, psychological maltreatment, and mental or psychological torture. It is an ongoing process in which one individual systematically diminishes and destroys the inner self (confidence, assertiveness, etc.) of another. What is considered abuse is culturally determined, and varies from culture to culture. Sexual abuse and rape: Sexual violence includes the use of physical force to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against their will, whether or not the act is completed. Sexual violence also includes any attempted or completed sex act involving a person who is unable to understand the nature or condition of the act, unable to decline participation, or unable to communicate unwillingness to engage in the sexual act. Sexual abuse is the use of another person’s sexuality for purposes other than mutually consented procreation or the intended mutual sexual gratification of the parties involved, regardless of gender. Rape is regarded as gender neutral. Rape has been defined in the Sexual Offences Act as follows: “Any person who intentionally and unlawfully compels, induces or causes another person to commit such an act is guilty of the offence of rape.” Economic abuse: Economic abuse is when the abuser has complete control over the victim’s money “allowance”, including the withholding of money at will and forcing the victim to beg for it until the abuser relents and gives the victim some money. Invariably, the victim will receive less money as the abuse continues. This also includes preventing the victim from finishing his/her education or obtaining employment. Spiritual abuse: Spiritual abuse includes using the spouse/partner’s religious or spiritual beliefs to manipulate them, preventing the partner from practicing their religious or spiritual beliefs, and ridiculing the other person’s religious or spiritual beliefs. 4. Discuss the plight of male offenders in the prison system as victims within a correctional context. (10) Sexual violence in prisons contributes to continuing cycles of sexual and other forms of violence, both in prison and when prisoners return to society. Downloaded by: thestudyshack | Distribution of this document is illegal Downloaded by: jesscoburn | Distribution of this document is illegal S S - The study-notes marketplace S - The study-notes marketplace - The study-notes marketplace Certain prisoners are targeted for sexual assault the moment they enter prison, due to age, appearance, sexual orientation, small size, shyness, and uncertainty. The characteristics of prison rapists seem to be unclear and unpredictable. They are usually younger than 35, are larger and/or stronger, more assertive, are physically aggressive, and feel more at home in the prison environment than their victims. They are street smart and are often members of prison gangs. They usually have been convicted of more violent crimes than their victims. Heterosexual male victims can respond physically to stimulation from their abusers, and may then question their own sexual identity and manhood. Other forms of sexual violence in prison involve physical and emotional violence. Objects can be used and forced oral sex is also prevalent. Some prisoners form “protective” sexual partnerships to avoid continual victimisation by many. In male prisons “women” (wyfies) are “created” by destroying men’s claim to manhood. Wyfies are regarded as sex objects and servants. Prison “marriages” between men and wyfies are usually brought about by an initial forced sexual act. In these “marriages” the “men” are active – they do “business” in prison and provide for the wyfies materially. They are the ones responsible for the penetration while having sex, and the wyfies have to be passive. “Wyfies” take care of the “home” space (prison cell) and are sexually available to their partners. Some prisoners consider rape as a form of fun, while in other cases initiation rape also serves a social purpose to create classes of men, for example, a class of subordinate men (“wyfies”). Society holds on to the homophobic myth that a “real man” cannot be penetrated – he should have been strong enough or fought harder to show that he is a real man. Once a prisoner is raped, his reputation as a man who has been penetrated is likely to precede him, making him vulnerable to further assaults. Many male rape survivors in prison question their masculinity. 5. Discuss the South African perspective on victim empowerment and support. (15) In South Africa, the rate of criminal victimisation is driven up by the presence of both economically deprived youngsters and the availability of suitable targets. The high level of crime seems to have structural causes that need to be addressed by a comprehensive crime policy. South African crime victims are dissatisfied with their treatment by the police, and also with the lack of specialised help. Both the care ideology and the criminal justice ideology can be utilised to remedy this situation. A nationwide network of support agencies for victims is also needed, and can include volunteers. An effective victim policy should involve a multi-agency approach. SA needs a comprehensive bill of rights for crime victims – one that includes proposed changes in the law, changes in procedures, and new codes of conduct for the professions involved. Victim policies also contribute to the prevention and control of crime. Downloaded by: thestudyshack | Distribution of this document is illegal Downloaded by: jesscoburn | Distribution of this document is illegal S S - The study-notes marketplace S - The study-notes marketplace - The study-notes marketplace Potential, actual, and repeat victims can take measures that will make future victimisation more difficult, such as by upgrading their home security. The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) is one of the six pillars of the National Growth and Development Strategy of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Cabinet approved the NCPS in 1996. The objective of the NCPS was to continue to work at reducing crime levels in South African society. The NCPS acknowledged the need to promote and implement a victim-centred approach to crime prevention. This was done through the introduction of the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) as an integral part of the NCPS. The aim of the VEP is to make integrated criminal justice victim-friendly and to minimise the negative effects of crime and violence on crime victims. The failure of effective victim empowerment in the criminal justice system may encourage vigilantism and lead to a lack of public confidence in the system. Case management should include the provision of feedback to victims regarding the progress of investigations and prosecutions. One of the key outputs of the VEP within the NCPS was to develop a comprehensive model that incorporates integrated service delivery to victims of crime and violence that is in line with national standards. This approach was based on the premise that crime is a social issue and requires multi-agency interventions and interdepartmental and intersectoral collaboration. The main role players are Welfare (Social Development) as the lead agency, SAPS, the courts and prosecutors of the Justice Department, Correctional Services, and Health and Education departments. NGOs (Non-governmental organisations), community-based organisations (CBOs) and other structures at local government level provide support to these sectors. This model aims to maximise available resources while minimising the duplication of efforts. It sustains state-managed delivery of caring, supportive, and accessible services. A restorative justice system seeks to encourage full participation, particularly of young offenders, where treatment is aimed at enabling minor offenders to avoid a life of crime.