School Of Social Sciences And PsychologyVictims of CrimeWestern Sydney University Unit Code: 101354.2
Discipline: CRIMINOLOGY
Student Contribution Band: 1
Level: 2
Credit Points: 10
Assumed Knowledge
Foundation Criminology units
Equivalent Units
C3075 - Victims of Crime
Unit Enrolment Restrictions
Successful completion of 40 credit points.
About this Unit
The needs of victims of crime have been largely ignored by practitioners in the criminal justice system. It was not until the 1970s that victims of crime attracted any serious public attention. The victims of crime movement has largely been a loose association of groups and individuals with a particular interest in specific areas of crime. Political lobbying by victims’ groups has had a range of influences on government policies in crime prevention and the sentencing and treatment of offenders. Other social movements such as the women’s movement and the gay rights movement have highlighted particular issues for groups affected by particular crimes and have been instrumental in changing legislation and gaining government funding for services for groups of victims of specific crimes.