This podcast serves as a general introduction to Victimology – the study of victims of crime – contrasting this (newer) area of sociological interest with sociological / criminological traditions of “blaming the victims” of crime for their victimisation.

Victimology is a good example of a transferable, cross-Specification, concept in that an understanding of the relationship between victims, offenders and the criminal justice system can be applied to theories of deviance (such as Left and Right Realism), power and control and the social distribution of crime (in the sense of understanding “who are the victims” of crime in our society).

Key concepts covered in this podcast:

• Victimology

• Criminal justice system

• Restorative justice

• Victim rights

• Crime reporting