The data received as a result of the crime and victimization surveys state that the rates of crime and victimization in the United States are different depending on many factors which are the demographic factors, the size of the communities and population, the economic factors, and the role of federal, state, and local agencies to prevent and overcome crimes.
From this point, to understand the issue, it is necessary to study the theories of victimization and crimes with references to the real-world examples.
Theories of victimization are developed to answer such questions as why some persons become the victims of crime more often than the other persons, why victims are often discussed as provoking the offenders’ behavior, and how the notions of ‘crime’ and ‘victim’ are correlated.
The social process or lifestyle theory is designed to answer these questions with references to the specifics of the victim’s position in the social structure, victim’s interactions with people, and victim’s lifestyle and behaviors.
Following this theory’s assumptions, it is possible to state that the representatives of the low-income families who have problems in their interactions with the family, friends, and colleagues become the victims of crimes more often because of living in the threatening environments and because of the persons’ lifestyle.
The example which can be used to support this theory is Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson (May, 2010). The case is associated with domestic violence. In 1999, Wykenna Watson became the victim of assaulting caused by her then-boyfriend, John Robertson.
Watson received the protective order prohibiting Robertson from approaching her in 100 feet. However, the order and a list of others were violated by Robertson (Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson, 2010). That is why, the case was revised during several years.
The independent witnesses pay attention to the fact that the problem is in the behavior of Watson and Robertson who are inclined to interact aggressively, while violating social and legal norms, thus, the behavior of Watson as a victim can be analyzed with references to the social process or lifestyle theory (Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson, 2010).
One of the most shocking examples of criminal activities observed in Ohio is the kidnappings realized by Ariel Castro in Cleveland, Ohio. More than ten years ago, Ariel Castro kidnapped three girls Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Georgina DeJesus who were hidden in the house by Ariel Castro. The man was arrested only in 2013.
The case was discussed in the Municipal Court of Cleveland, Ohio, but the federal and state agencies also actively participated in the discussion of the case because of the necessity to resolve the case of kidnapping effectively and to propose the adequate sentence for Ariel Castro (Prosecutor: Ariel Castro could face death penalty, 2013). As a result of the prolonged legal process, Ariel Castro was sentenced to life in prison.
The sentence was based on the discussion of kidnapping and rape as the most severe criminal activities according to the laws of the United States. However, Ariel Castro committed suicide after a month of being imprisoned.
Such cases as Ariel Castro’s one should be discussed as a result of the effective cooperation between the local, state, and federal agencies because of the necessity to develop the strategies for preventing the similar cases in the future. The kidnapping and rape as the severe criminal activities should be punished accordingly, and the task of the courts and juries is to provide the most effective decisions in relation to such problematic cases.
The recent incident of crime observed in Washington, DC, is the double homicide near the campus of the Howard University (D.C. police investigating double homicide near Howard University campus, 2014). On January 20, 2014, two persons were killed, and the investigation process is continuing.
The incident terrified the public of Washington, DC, and made the police act more effectively in relation to preventing similar incidents in the future (D.C. police investigating double homicide near Howard University campus, 2014).
In order to make the community of Washington, DC, safer and to reduce the situations when people can become the victims of such a homicide, it is necessary to improve the work of the patrol services in the streets of Washington, DC. The improvements are necessary to change the approach to scheduling the work of policemen and to providing the policemen with the necessary resources.
Much attention should be paid to the development of the services of immediate reactions to crimes. Thus, the changes should cover the work of 911 services in order to contribute to the positive results of the policemen’ work. Furthermore, the investigation process should be also improved because it is necessary to involve more people in working at the case in order to guarantee the better results.
Crime and victimization as the controversial issues which should be actively discussed in the jurisdiction process in order to respond to the victimization theories and to develop the strategies for preventing and overcoming different types of criminal activities.
References
D.C. police investigating double homicide near Howard University campus. (2014). Web.
Prosecutor: Ariel Castro could face death penalty. (2013). Web.
Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson. (2010). Web.