The Victim-Offender Relationship

Abstract

The victim of an offense may have engaged in behavior that intentionally or unintentionally triggered his own victimization; some victims may have consented to the criminal act. Since consent occurs in degrees, and a certain degree of consent negates or reduces the severity of the offense, probation officers should become familiar with the concept of "victimology" and consider its application in the presentence investigation. About 85 per cent of all defendants plead guilty without a trial; the presen tence report, therefore, is perhaps the best device for acquainting the court with factors of victimology. Probation and parole officers must understand victim-offender relationships. The per sonality of the victim, as a cause of the offense, is oftentimes more pertinent than that of the offender.