1.14. Victims and Victim Typologies 
SHANELL SANCHEZ 
It was not until 1660 that the word victim was first used to in the sense of a person who is hurt, tortured or 
killed by another. A victim of crime did not exist until well into the 17th century. Why were victims ignored 
for so long? 
1 A victim is an integral part of the system, in fact, some say without a victim there would be no 
need for the CJ system. Victims are the people or communities that suffer physical, emotional, or financial 
harm as a result of a crime. Over the years different typologies of victims have been created to demonstrate 
the unique role or position of victims in relation to crime. Typically, when people hear someone has been a 
victim of a crime we often think of them as completely innocent. In fact, a lot of new legislation and policy 
changes created to provide the victim with a greater role in the CJ offers the stereotypical view of the victim 
as completely innocent. 
2 
Typologies of Crime Victims 
Theorists have developed victim typologies that are concerned primarily with the situational and personal 
characteristics of victims and the relationship between victims and offenders. Benjamin Mendelsohn was one 
of the first criminologists to create a victim typology, in the 1950s, but was not without controversy. Below 
is a table of Mendelsohn’s typology of crime victims and as you can see he placed a lot of emphasis on most 
victims attitude that leads to their victimization. 
3 
Mendelsohn’s Typology of Crime Victims 
1. Hagemann, O., Schäfer, P., & Schmidt, S. (Eds.) (2010). Victimology, Victim Assistance, and Criminal Justice: Perspectives Shared by 
International Experts Wemmers, J. A short history of victimology. at the Inter-University Centre of Dubrovnik. 2010. Available at SSRN: 
https://ssrn.com/abstract=2482627 
2. Fuller, J.R. (2019). Introduction to Criminal Justice:  New York: Oxford University Press. 
3. Mendelsohn, B. (1976). Victimology and contemporary society's trends. Victimology, 1(1), 8-28. 
57