Date of Graduation

Fall 2015

Degree

Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Department

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Committee Chair

Aida Hass

Abstract

The strong and consistent relationship between criminal involvement and victimization is one of the most persistent documented findings within criminological research. The current problem associated with this relationship involves the lack of studies on the nature and extent of why this overlap exists, with even less research focusing on the perspectives of the offenders who identify themselves as victims. The current study attempts to better understand the victim-offender overlap by analyzing the experiences of criminal offenders who also identify as victims of crime, within the context of various theoretical perspectives. Various themes emerge to elaborate on the nature of the victimoffender overlap with implications for guidance in the development of research and policy. Such implications include creating and implementing programs and policies that address aspects of victimization and offending simultaneously, which will help individuals who have characteristics of both. These individuals can then receive the appropriate assistance and services they need in order to help prevent other offending and victimization situations from occurring. This will in turn create a safer environment for family members and the community, in addition to redirecting resources elsewhere, such as away from filing police reports and apprehending offenders, to being redirected towards increasing and enhancing these programs and policies being offered.

Keywords

victimization, offending, victim-offender overlap, routine activities and lifestyle theories, socialization theories, and individual trait theory/population heterogeneity argument

Subject Categories

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Copyright

© Christine Kay Hannis

Download

Open Access

Share

COinS