Victims of Crime: The importance of root causes and prevention
This is the second in a series of four blog posts regarding victims of crime in Canada. In the first blog I mentioned that 2% of the population experienced 60% of all violent crimes. When people experience more than one violent crime this is called multiple victimization. Multiple victimization is why such a small amount of the population experiences such a high volume of the violent crime in Canada.
So what allows the 2% to experience 60% of all violent crime? Can we prevent multiple victimization for these people? Would the prevention of multiple victimization lower the crime rate? Are there characteristics that make that 2% more vulnerable to violent crime?
Research doesn’t exactly answer all of those questions, but it does acknowledge that certain risk factors are associated with becoming a victim of crime. Research also states that these same characteristics do not increase the likelihood for being the victim of multiple crimes.
If there are no characteristics to help protect that 2% of the population from experiencing multiple victimization, we need to focus on preventing crime. To prevent crime, and ultimately people becoming victims, we need to look at the root causes, something the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council stresses as important. To be smart on crime means understanding why it happens, and preventing it before it does.
Protective factors are also important to prevent people from becoming victims of crime. Some of the protective factors highlighted by the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council include problem resolution, organized recreation activities, possibilities for participation in the community, self-confidence, self-control, and a strong self-image. These protective factors encourage resiliency and autonomy.
When we encourage resiliency and autonomy, we help protect people from becoming victims of crime. This is something that will take time, so how can we deal more effectively with victims of crime in the mean time. What are the consequences of being a victim of crime?
I will take a look at these questions in the next article on the consequences and aftermath of being a victim of crime.
Resources used in this post:
Public Safety Canada
Institute for the Prevention of Crime
Root Causes of Crime Map
Author: Tracie McGrath-Levis
Tracie McGrath-Levi is a completing a student placement with WRCPC and has contributed previous posts to Smart on Crime. In addition to completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Tracie works full-time with the John Howard Society in Milton. In her role there Tracie works in court four days a week in an adult diversion program and in bail.