Victims StillThe 1980s saw official crime policy in the United States shifting its focus from crime and criminals to victimization and victims. In this thought-provoking book, Robert Elias evaluates the effectiveness of this shift in policy and argues that victims have been politically manipulated for official objectives. From a thorough examination of victim legislation, get-tough crime policies, media crime coverage, the victim movement, and the wars on crime and drugs, Elias concludes that little victim support has actually occurred and that victimization is, in fact, escalating. He argues for a change in the structural sources of crime and proposes a `new culture' that could lead to substantially less crime. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Still Victims after All These Years | 1 |
Abetting Victimization | 6 |
All Dressed up but No Place to Go? | 26 |
Chapter 4 Taking the Victims Movement for a Ride | 52 |
Chapter 5 Wars on Drugs as Wars on Victims | 66 |
Chapter 6 Do Victims Want Revenge? | 88 |
War or Peace? | 106 |
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Common terms and phrases
advocates African-Americans alternatives American blame causes co-optation cocaine conservative court crime and drugs crime and violence crime policy crime problem crime victims crime-control criminal justice criminal process criminal-justice crusades culture domestic violence drug abuse drug wars economic Elias eliminate exclusionary rule failed Fattah federal feminist force Frances Fox Piven funding get-tough harm help victims Henderson human rights imprisonment increased Karmen launched law enforcement law-and-order legislation manipulated ment National Newsweek newsweeklies numbers offenders official peace penalties Pepinsky perspectives plea bargaining police officers political pornography prevent prison produce programs promote protection punishment pursue rape reduce crime reduce victimization reforms repression restitution routinely sentencing seriously sexism sexual assault Smith & Freinkel social society sources strategies tion tive treatment U.S. Constitution Viano victim and witness victim impact statements victim participation victim policy Victim Rights victimology Victims of Crime War on Drugs women