CM1H010 - The Real Impact of Crime: Vulnerability and Victims 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CM1H010
Module Title: The Real Impact of Crime: Vulnerability and Victims
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Criminology
Module Leader: David Morgan, Janine Vickery
Module Team: Daniel Welch, Helen Martin, Laura Phillips, David Morgan
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 10 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

The module aims to embed knowledge and understanding of the evolution of Victimology in England and Wales, through the use of victimology concepts and theories.

Content Summary

This module provides students with a detailed understanding of victimology, through considering some of the major theoretical concepts outlined with the field. It will explore the nature and extent of victimisation, and critically the changing role of the victim within the criminal justice system. The module seeks to help students develop a critical appreciation of the conceptual development of victims and victimology as an academic discipline. It also aims to evaluate notions of victimhood and explore challenges for victim service provision.

Overall, this module will demonstrate the importance and necessity of:

  • Ways of measuring victimisation.

  • Exploring the impact of crime; primary and secondary victimisation.

  • Historical Development of 'Victims' and the Study of Victimisation/Victimology

  • Theories of Victimisation: Individual, Societal and Cultural Explanations

  • Routine Activity Theory

  • The Victim in Social and Political Context

  • Measuring Victimisation and the Challenges

  • Social Diversity, Inequality and Victimisation

  • 'Types' of Victimisations, e.g. Mendelsohn’s typologies of crime victims.

  • Victim / survivor needs and expectations

  • Responses to Victimisation

  • Non-statutory, Third Sector and Grass-Roots Responses

  • The hierarchy of victimisation.

  • The fear of crime

  • Appreciation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the context of victimisation and offending.

  • Taking account of the victim within the Criminal Justice System.

  • Victim impact statements.

  • 'Types' of Justice: Criminal, Restorative, Procedural etc.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical Classes and Workshops 24
Independent Study 38
Directed Study (including online independent learning) 38
Total Hours Selected 100

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate understanding of classical, theoretical and contemporary debates on victims of crime.
LO2 Analyse the experiences and impact of criminal victimisation

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Online) 1 Students will be required to discuss the impact of specific forms of victimisation on an individual. 10 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Synchronous Online) 1

Reading List

Bottoms, A E (2010) Hearing the Victim: adversarial justice, crime victims and the state. Collumpton: Willan.

Davies, P.? (2011) Gender, Crime and Victimisation. London: Sage Publications.

Duggan, M (2018) Revisiting the ‘ideal victim’: Developments in critical victimology. Bristol: Policy Press. 

Hall, M (2009) Victims of Crime: Policy and practice in criminal justice. Collumpton: Willan

Hall, M (2010) Victims and Policy Making: a comparative perspective. Abingdon: Willan. 

Karmen, A. (2015) Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology Boston: Cengage Learning.

Vanfraechem, I., Pemberton, A., & Ndahinda, F.M. (2014) Justice for Victims: Perspectives on Rights, transition and reconciliation Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Walklate, S (2018) Handbook of Victims and Victimology. 2nd edition. Collumpton: Willan.