Forensic Victimology

In this chapter, we will discuss forensic victimology and some of the incredible research that has been conducted in this area. Let discuss the goals of forensic victimology as adapted from Turvey (2012). They are explained as followed:

Goals of Forensic Victimology

1. Assist in understanding the elements of the Crime
2. Assist in the Development of a Timeline
3. Define a Suspect Pool
4. Provide Investigative Suggestions
5. Assist with Crime Reconstruction
6. Assist with Contextualizing Allegations of Victimization
7. Assist in the Development of Offender Modus Operandi
8. Assist with the development of offender Motive
9. Assist with Establishing the Offenders Exposure Level
10. Assist with Case Linkage
11. Assist with Publish Safety Response
12. Reduce Victim Deification and vilification
    

Deification
Involves idealizing victims based on what or who they are, without the consideration of the facts. Because of a certain region or area, specific victim populations tend to be more publicly or politically sympathetic because of the public or political culture.

• Remove Good Suspects from the suspect pool
• Provide Coverage for the false reporter
• Provide Coverage for suspects who are family or household members.
  

Vilification
Involves viewing the victim as disposable by what they are without consideration of the facts. The basic premise or thought process is that it’s acceptable or perhaps not as harmful to commit crimes against people of a particular ethnicity, race, lifestyle, or religion. Examples might include:

• The homeless/mentally ill
• Homosexuals
• Minority Populations
• Prostitutes
• Drug Dealers
• Drug Addicts
• Teen Run Away
• Religious Beliefs