Does One Size Fit All? Reactions to Victimization and Their Policy Implications

Abstract

Epidemiological studies of crime victimization generally assume common reactions to similar victimizations across victims. Just as victims' reporting behaviors vary with the characteristics of the person and the situation, it is hypothesized that the impact of victimization will also vary. The current research will examine responses to a range of criminal and non-criminal self-reported victimizations among women at a regional Australian university. Analysis will focus on the range of responses within and across categories of victimization. The role of socio-demographic, situational, and organizational variables on reported impact will be explored. Security policy implications addressed will include whether prevention efforts and/or responses to victimizations can be based on categories of victimization or on individual victim characteristics.