PSYCHOLOGICAL

IMPACT OF
VICTIMIZATION

PRESENTED BY SOHINI BHATTACHARYYA AND AFREEN PARVEEN.

ENROLMENT ID: 2012215001049, 2012215001061
• Justice Krishna Iyer pointed out: the criminal law in India is not victim oriented and the suffering of the
victim, often immeasurable is entirely overlooked in misplaced sympathy for the criminal. Though our modern
criminal law is designed to punish as well as reform the criminals, yet it overlooks the by product of
crime i.e victim.
• Victim: The term victim in general sense refers to those who experience injury, loss and hardship due to any
cause and even one of such causes may be crime - such injury or harm can be emotional, financial,
psychological and physical. Victims of crime is the person who has suffered at the hands of perpetrators.
Section 2(wa) of code of criminal procedure conveys about victim.
• Victimization: Victimization is the process of being victimized or becoming a victim. The concept of
victimization and also victim has not been clearly defined in the Indian Criminal Justice System.

Victimization

Primary Secondary Re-victimization Self- victimization

 DIFFERENT THEORIES OF
• VICTIMIZATION
Primary victimization- the immediate physical, emotional, mental, financial and social impact of crime on
the victim is primary victimization.
• Secondary victimization- victims face secondary victimization upon entering the criminal justice system. It
is also known as double or post crime victimization as it relates to further victimization following on the
primary. The re-traumatization of the sexual assault, abuse or rape-victim by the society and the criminal
justice system is an example of secondary victimization.
• Re-victimization- the chance to be victimized again either sooner or much later of the commission of the
crime. It has been found that people with histories of sexual abuse experience re-victimization at a very high
rate.
• Self- victimization – often known as victim playing, is the fabrication of victim-hood for a number of reasons
like attention seeking, manipulating others and justifying abuse of others.
 IMPACT OF VICTIMIZATION
• Psychological impact- the most long lasting effects are the psychological effects which the victims suffer. The
trauma which the victim undergoes affects the victim’s ability to perform functions, think clearly, keep
emotions under control and act suitably in social circumstances.
 Effect on emotional aspects- at first the victims may find it hard to believe that they have become a victim; they may
pretend that it did not happen at all. After the initial disbelief, denial and shock of the crime they experience other
emotions such as anger, rage, fear, frustration, confusion, shame, guilt and grief. The victims experience strong desires
for revenge and anger towards the offender, society, criminal justice system, family or even themselves. They feel
terror and often experience panic attacks when reminded of the crime.
 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)- is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either
experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as
uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
 Depression- has been found to be associated with many forms of victimization, including sexual victimization, violent
crime, property crime, peer victimization, and domestic abuse. Indicators of depression include irritable or sad mood
for prolonged periods of time, lack of interest in most activities, significant changes in weight/appetite, activity, and
sleep patterns, loss of energy and concentration, excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and suicidality.
CONTINUATION…….
 Anxiety- A connection between victimization and anxiety has been established for both children and adults. The
particular types of anxiety studied in relation to victimization vary; some research references anxiety as a general term
while other research references more specific types such as social anxiety. The term anxiety covers a range of
difficulties and several specific diagnoses, including panic attacks, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.

• Physical impact- physical injuries may be minor, moderate and major depending on the crime committed. Even
after the physical injuries are healed other physical effects of pain and discomfort continue to subsist. Some
victims are rendered incapable of leading a normal lifestyle following victimization.
• Financial impact- the financial impact on the victims may be in the form of costs and expenses in medical
treatment, damages to the property, litigation expenses, loss of earnings, etc.
 RISE OF VICTIM RIGHTS
• The basic principles formulated for justice for crime victims under UN declaration (1985) identified the
following areas:
 Access to justice and fair treatment- Victims should be treated with compassion and respect for their dignity. They
are entitled to access to the mechanisms of justice and to prompt redress, as provided for by national legislation, for
the harm that they have suffered.
 Restitution-Offenders or third parties responsible for their behaviour should, where appropriate, make fair restitution
to victims, their families or dependants. Such restitution should include the return of property or payment for the harm
or loss suffered, reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result of the victimization, the provision of services and the
restoration of rights.
 Compensation-When compensation is not fully available from the offender or other sources, States should endeavour
to provide financial compensation.
 Assistance- Victims should receive the necessary material, medical, psychological and social assistance through
governmental, voluntary, community-based and indigenous means.
 JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION.

• Rattan Singh v. State of Punjab- wherein it was observed that “It is a weakness of our
jurisprudence that victims of crime and the distress of the dependents of the victim do not
attract the attention of law. In fact the victim reparation is still the vanishing point of our
criminal law. This is the deficiency in the system, which must be rectified by
the legislature.”
• In case of R.D Upadhyaya v. State of Andhra Pradesh- the court issued certain
guidelines to ensure that certain minimum standards are observed with regard of women
prisoners. As they born out of a certain unfortunate situation, they should not be treated
with disgrace and for thus court started to focus on psychological aspects of the women
prisoners as well as victim.
RECOMMENDATION
• States should look at plights of victims with more sympathy and ensure
rehabilitation of victims through means of restorative justice.
• States should take responsibility with regard to compensation of victims of
crime and should not avoid their responsibility in pretext of economic
constraint.
• From investigation to conviction, the criminal justice system should
operate in a way which does not further traumatize victims or aggravate
their emotional pain.
• States should enact clear laws in regards to victim rights and
victim compensation.
 CONCLUSION
Small steps can go a long way in such cases. Journaling is one such step that can be initiated by a victim.
Spending time around loved ones might also help in dealing with symptoms. Re-establishing a normal routine,
taking up tasks, and exercising are all ways in which a victim can deal with trauma. However, victims must
avoid engaging in self-harming activities for relief, such consumption of alcohol. It is also of utmost priority
that victims don’t engage in self-blame, which will undoubtedly deteriorate their mental health condition. In
this way the society can combat with the issue of victimization and it's effect on victims and can restore
back to normal life.