Saturday, March 17, 2012

Social Movements

Annmarie Griffin

Social Movements Essay

Social Movements that Led the Way for Vcitim's Rights

 

One of the social movements that have played a part in American society that help victims is the "Law and order Movement". This has overlapped with the legal standings and improved the treatment of victims. The criminal justice reformers have sought to have greater accountability for offenders by way of stricter sentences. Violent crime victims have become more outspoken and political figures have become aware of the public’s concern about crime and its repercussions. This has led to increased funding for aid to victims of crime and new legislation aimed at holding offenders wholly responsible for their actions.

"Donald E. Santarelli, Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) in 1974, was a lead reformer in the victims' rights movement (Clark, J.,1999-2012)". He became involved in the victim’s rights movement because due to research he found that criminal prosecutions of offenders usually fell apart due to the poor treatment of victims. As a result of his involvement victims were able to have a greater involvement in the prosecution of offenders and were referred to outside agencies for additional care and support.

In the 1970’s the Women’s Movement began to key in on victims of domestic and sexual assaults. The feminist movement changed the way these victims were viewed by society and the legal system. These offenses were no longer viewed as taboo or family matters. The first two rape crisis centers were opened in California and Washington, D. (Clark, J., 1999-2012).

The civil rights movement of the 1960’s addressed concerns over minority groups receiving fair and equal treatment. It has helped the victims to have the government understand and bestow criminal proceedings against perpetrators of hate crimes (Karmen, A., 2010).

 

INTERNET RESOURCES:
Theoretical Perspectives of Victimology

Clark, J (1999-2012) History of Victimology Retrieved March 17, 2012 from
http://www.ehow.com/about_5121928_history-victimology.html
Hentig, von, Hans (1948) The Criminal and His Victim. New Haven: Yale U. Press.
Karmen, A. (1992) Crime Victims. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole.


Karmen, A. (2010). Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology. Belmont: Wadsworth.

Mendelsohn, B. (1963) "The Origin of the Doctrine of Victimology" Excerpta Criminologica 3:30
Newman, O. (1972) Defensible Space. NY: Macmillan.
Schwartz, M. & V. Pitts (1995) "Exploring a Feminist Routine Activities Approach to Explaining Sexual Assault" Justice Quarterly 12: 1.





 

 

 

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