Preventing Repeat Residential Burglary Victimization
This chapter reviews evaluations of the prevention of repeat residential burglary. These evaluations are a subset of the evaluations relating to the prevention of repeat victimization. The review methodology aims to follow that of the systematic review process proposed by the Campbell Collaboration, which has produced a series of recent reviews including, Farrington and Welsh (2002) and the set of reviews edited by Farrington and Welsh (2001). In keeping with that format, the authors acknowledge a possible interest: We have both previously worked on repeat victimization prevention efforts and elsewhere contended that preventing repeat victimization is a potentially attractive crime prevention strategy.
Multiple Victimisation: Its Extent and Significance
The extent and significance of multiple and repeat victimisation have gone largely unrecognised. The literature is explored with respect to demonstrating that multiple victimisation is robust across crime types and method of study. Nine different research methods suggest a similar pattern of the distribution of victimisation; a small proportion of the population experience a large proportion of all crime. In the British Crime Survey, 70% of all incidents were reported by the 14% of respondents who are multiple victims (a conservative figure). With respect to significance, victimisation should not be studied without fully accounting for multiple victimisation. Many areas of policy and practice may be affected by a recognition of the importance of multiple victimisation. For crime prevention policy, if repeat or multiple victimisation can be prevented, a large proportion of all crime might be prevented. Crime prevention strategy developed through responses to victimisation should be spatially and temporally focused.
The Needs and Rights of Victims of Crime
The "victims' movement" can claim considerable success in putting the interests of crime victims on the political agenda in North America and Europe. Pioneering groups of volunteers and activists laid the groundwork for financial, practical, and psychological support services that are now funded by government on a significant scale. In the United States, legislation creates rights for victims to participate in the criminal justice process. It has not been firmly established how many (and what kinds of) victims are seriously in need of assistance, or what form this should take: research findings are contradictory and confusing, plagued by methodological and definitional problems. Service delivery also presents difficult dilemmas because many victims will not ask for help; high take-up rates emerge only when a personal approach is made. Although there is evidence of high levels of client satisfaction with victim services, research has not established that service provision greatly affects recovery from the effects of crime.