Golden Age of the Victim Golden Age Essay

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Golden Age of the Victim

Golden Age Victim

An overview of the Golden Age of the Victim, including a comparison of victim mentalities of the 1960s era compared with the victim mentality of today's "victim" of crime. Synopsis of victim's assistance programs and victim advocates, including the methods they use to help victims and the laws enacted to provide victims with ongoing support within states and federal governing bodies.

Historically crime ran rampant throughout the nation. There wasn't much a person could do if they became a "victim" of crime. Many people took up arms and attempted to reconcile criminal activity on their own, helpless and subject to repeat offenses. During times of old, or the "Golden Age" of the victim, there was no help for someone defined as a victim, or burdened by crime. Crime was just as costly for many families as it is today, and with no support, financial or otherwise, for a single person or family, crime could be devastating.

People affected by crimes including physical or emotional crime, or burdened by theft, were often left to fend for themselves. Friends and family members often had to chip in to help bring people back to a place where they felt safe again. This time frame occurred somewhere around the 1960s, when efforts started anew to help stop victimization. Many states within the U.S. have started what some refer to as a new golden age, in an attempt to help improve the status of victims, by alleviating the costs associated with crime, and the emotional burdens associated with crime.

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Schmalleger (2008) discusses the legal tradition of the victim, noting today there is more assistance for the victim than ever, starting with the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1993, which defines a victim as anyone against whom an offense has been committed. The federal law defines victim in two ways, including a parent or legal guardian if the victim is younger than 18 or a family member that the court designates if the victim is deceased (Schmalleger, 2008; Schmalleger, Hall, Daniel & Dolatowski, 2009). Victim can be defined in other ways, including anyone that has been threatened, either directly or indirectly, and suffered harm, whether emotional or physical, or other harm resulting from a crime (Schmalleger, 2008; 1998).

History and Significance of Victim's Assistance

Victim assistance programs are now in place to help victims of crime. These support other legislation including the 1984 passage of the federal Victims of Crime Act (Schmalleger & Armstrong, 1997; Schmalleger, Hall & Dolatowski, 2009) which purpose is to provide compensation to victims. Victim's advocates today work to pass laws, including "Son of Sam" laws, which also work to provide support for victims' rights, typically by denying offenders already convicted of crimes any opportunity to make money from their crimes; say for example, by selling their stories to the media (Schmalleger, Hall & Dolatowski, 2009).….....

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