Social and Psychological Consequences of Violent Victimization

"The book achieves its goal of encouraging the reader to think broadly about how the consequences of violent victimization can be measured, understood, and prevented. The authors also achieve their goal of emphasizing the need for multiple research methods and multiple theoretical perspectives for understanding the effects and implications of violent crime. The book would certainly be a useful resource for students studying psychology or criminology, and is likely to be of interest to professionals who work with victims of violent crime."
--CRIME PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

What are the effects that violent crime has on our everyday lives, both in terms of the individual victims and their larger community? This unique text draws from both the fields of criminology and psychology to provide a comprehensive examination of the two major areas that are most significantly effected by violent crime - the crime victims themselves and the larger sphere of their families, friends, neighborhoods, and communities. Beginning with a discussion of the how we measure and study violent victimization, the authors R. Barry Ruback and Martie P. Thompson, look at the immediate and long-term impact violent acts has upon the direct victims. Social and Psychological Consequences of Violent Victimization examines "secondary victims"- family members, neighbors, friends, and the professional involved with investigating and prosecuting the crime and helping the victim, and also impacts of violent crime on neighborhoods and communities. The authors conclude with recommendations of effective interventions that can be made at the levels of the individual, the community, and the criminal justice and mental health systems.

This book’s one-of-a kind focus on both the psychological and social impact of crime makes it an invaluable supplementary text for criminal justice and criminology courses dealing with victimization, violent crimes, and the criminal justice process. The book will also interest professionals in victim services, crime prevention, criminal justice, and social work.