U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Impact of Victimization

NCJ Number
251535
Date Published
2015
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This material, which is intended for use in the integration of crime victims' issues into college and university curricula, provides students with an overview of the impact of criminal victimization.
Abstract
The rationale for including this material in college curricula is the importance of students having an understanding of the essential elements of the types of harm that can result from criminal acts and the various reactions a crime victim may experience. It is also important for students to be aware of the range of impacts that can result from various types of offenses experienced across different victims. The impact immediately following the crime may also be different for the same individual over the long term. After completing this curriculum kit, students should be able to list some physical, financial, emotional, and psychological consequences for crime victims; understand that there is no one dominant and consistent set of symptoms for all crimes or all crime victims; define the term "secondary victimization;" describe some of the impacts of crime on secondary victims; and understand the societal costs of crime. This material can be modified for use in courses of various disciplines, including, but not limited to, history, psychology, sociology, social work, and criminal justice. Reviewers who have used this material suggest its use in introductory criminology, introduction to criminal justice, victims/victimology, social problems, or introduction to sociology. Also provided in this material are information on class time required (60 minutes), equipment and other resources needed for presentation of material, and suggestions for presenting and discussing each slide in a PowerPoint presentation of the material. National resources for crime victims are listed.