Introduction
Victimization is the process of turning a person into a victim of criminal assault or persecution, as well as its result, regardless of whether it is an isolated case or a mass one. This encompasses all cases where moral or physical damage was inflicted on the object, including violence, aggression, and fraud (Goemans et al., 2023). There is a crime against a specific individual or against a group of individuals. Numerous attempts are made to address this issue from different perspectives. This paper aims to examine how laws and policies have impacted the mentioned cycle, their strengths and weaknesses, and to explore further interventions.
Cycle of Abuse
Primarily, it is vital to define the cycle of abuse to understand how numerous systems influence it. American researcher and psychologist Lenore Walker developed the “cycle of violence” theory based on her own experiences (Singer et al., 2019). This model attempts to describe the dynamics of intimate relationships in which violence takes place. Walker believes that specific patterns exist in such relationships (Singer et al., 2019). If neither partner breaks the cycle, the abuse becomes more intense over time, and the cycle repeats at shorter and shorter intervals. Four stages of this cycle will be described below.
The abuser becomes argumentative and agitated throughout the tension-building period. They also rant, criticize, swear, and make furious gestures. The abuser may occasionally employ coercion, threats, or small-scale physical altercations. The abuse victim frequently feels that something negative is about to happen as the couple’s conflict worsens.
Abuse is more likely to occur when tension rises – this is the explosive phase. This is when a significant act of violence takes place, such as a physical or sexual assault, a threat of harm, or verbal abuse (Goemans et al., 2023). This stage is when injuries are most likely to occur or when the police may arrive.
Following the explosion, the abuser expresses regret and displays loving behavior. Things get better for a brief time if they provide gifts to the other person or act like the person you first fell in love with. The period of calmness should have ended by now, but it did not; anxiety returned, and the cycle continued.
Legislation Addressing the Cycle of Violence
There were multiple attempts to address the issue at the legislative level because it was vital to avoid revictimization. Wisconsin was the first state to adopt a Victims’ Bill of Rights in 1980 (Daigle, 2020). The 1980s and 1990s saw the ongoing application of laws and policies regarding the cycle of victimization (Daigle, 2020). Many states have enacted their own laws, policies, and amendments to protect victims and resolve various cases.
Such involvement by governments has ensured recognition of the causes of victimization and spread awareness worldwide that the problem is severe. In addition, “the creation of preventive measures can be aided by knowing the extent of victimization, who is most likely to be targeted, and the causes of victimization” (Daigle, 2020, p. 1). Increasingly, jurisdictions are enacting laws or implementing policies that involve victims in criminal cases, giving them a voice in prosecution and decision-making (Singer et al., 2019). They also ensure that the victim obtains state compensation or damages from the offender and safeguard the victim from additional victimization by the criminal or during the process itself.
Pros and Cons of Legislative Initiatives
Considering that governmental initiatives always have a two-sided effect on the chosen field, this part of the essay will examine the benefits and drawbacks of victimization-related programs. Primarily, the state’s participation in creating laws and policies has contributed to increased awareness of the issue (Singer et al., 2019). Increasingly, victims are no longer afraid to raise this sensitive topic and report the offenders (Martínez-Schuldt & Martínez, 2021).
Additionally, crime victims may feel cut off from their loved ones, acquaintances, and society. Because of the callous treatment they have received from abusers and careless individuals, they may feel as though they have been stigmatized or tarnished by an assault. By introducing the acts, the victimized individuals are no longer exposed to threats, as the law now protects them. Crime victims may have a loss of control over their environment if they are unable to identify the reason why they are being victimized. Victims can have a positive impact on society and rediscover their power by being aware of the laws that protect their rights.
On the other hand, there is a widespread misconception about victims. In other words, the major weakness is that people may pretend to be victims and receive benefits while maltreating other people. The alleged victims may hide their true motives but remain untouchable.
Moreover, another drawback is that the legislation may contradict the Bill of Rights, which values one’s life and guarantees protection to every person (Martínez-Schuldt & Martínez, 2021). Hence, offenders could be placed in the same circumstances as the victims, making them equal before the law. Finally, not all laws protect victims psychologically because of the lack of specialists’ involvement. To establish complete protection, it is vital to take care of them mentally.
Expectations vs. Reality
Considering the need to protect the rights of victims, the criminal justice system aims to address the impact of the violence cycle and break it. Each year, 40 million Americans suffer the consequences of major crimes (“National Crime Victimization Survey,” 2022). While the rights of the guilty are acknowledged, the suffering that crime victims go through is not always acknowledged (Edalati et al., 2020).
The objectives of the federal law that protects victims’ rights are to treat them properly and provide them with the opportunity to participate in court cases and the criminal justice system. As the case against the perpetrator develops and is considered by the court, the prosecution should keep the victims informed (Iliadis, 2020). Victim and witness coordinators can help each other in several ways, such as by assisting them in creating impact statements. The aggrieved have a right to know the current situation with the offender’s custody and frequently require assistance to deal with the physical, mental, and monetary damages. The primary government organization that provides support to crime victims is the Office for Victims of Crime.
Nonetheless, the current practices are not enough to break the cycle of violence, and more intensive interventions are demanded to address the problem. The federal and state governments share joint responsibility for addressing the needs of crime victims within the criminal justice system. Traditional penalties like probation and incarceration should incorporate the knowledge that victimization and the trauma connected to it are components of how people act and react(Iliadis, 2020). A trauma-based strategy should be used as a guide for professionals working with offenders in the justice system, with victimization as a significant focus.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as an Innovative Solution
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the promising methods for reversing the situation, according to the rapidly expanding body of research on programs designed to counteract trauma. Through teaching and practicing the skills required to select nonviolent reactions to stress and perceived injustice, cognitive behavioral therapy has been demonstrated to decrease violence. It has been utilized to treat both adults and children in various cultural contexts (Edalati et al., 2020). The provision of cognitive behavioral therapy to youth and gang members who interact with the legal system ought to be mandated by policymakers. The effectiveness of efforts to combat abuse should be enhanced; therefore, policymakers and other civic leaders should ensure that, as these programs expand, researchers can provide practitioners with support that enables better applications.
Conclusion
In conclusion, victimization and the cycle of violence are the phenomena that are widely addressed by the criminal justice system. The attempts to break the mentioned cycle are still unsuccessful because the measures introduced by the government may seem ineffective due to their mildness. Nonetheless, they protect victims and guarantee safety while solving the case.
As part of an integrated strategy for violence prevention, investing in the home, the classroom, and the community should not be discouraged. Finally, it is essential to note that elements of cognitive behavioral and trauma-based therapies should be incorporated into legislation. These interventions will offer comprehensive support to victims and provide them with new behavioral patterns.
References
Daigle, L. (2020). Victimology: A Text/Reader (2nd Ed). SAGE Publications.
Edalati, H, Nicholls, T.L., Schütz, C.G., Somers, J., Distasio, L., Aubry, T., & Crocker, A. (2020). Examining the relationships between cumulative childhood adversity and the risk of criminal justice involvement and victimization among homeless adults with mental illnesses after receiving housing first intervention. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 65(6), 409-417.
Goemans, A., Viding, E., & McCrory, E. (2023). Child maltreatment, peer victimization, and mental health: Neurocognitive perspectives on the cycle of victimization. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 530-548.
Iliadis, M. (2020). Victim representation for sexual history evidence in Ireland: A step towards or away from meeting victims’ procedural justice needs? Criminology & Criminal Justice, 20(4), 416-432.
Martínez-Schuldt, R. D., & Martínez, D. E. (2021). Immigrant sanctuary policies and crime-reporting behavior: A multilevel analysis of reports of crime victimization to law enforcement, 1980 to 2004. American Sociological Review, 86(1), 154-185.
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). (2022). Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Singer, A. J., Chouhy, C., Lehmann, P. S., Walzak, J. N., Gertz, M., & Biglin, S. (2019). Victimization, fear of crime, and trust in criminal justice institutions: A cross-national analysis. Crime & Delinquency, 65(6), 822-844.