Victimology

Becoming a victim of a crime can be a traumatic experience. Victimization varies from theft of your bicycle so that you have to buy a new bicycle, theft of your data of which it is unclear what damage you will experience, or becoming a victim of stalking, sexual abuse or international crimes, of which the consequences can be very far-reaching and ‘life-long’.

Risk factors and protective factors for victimization

Some people are more likely to become a victim than others. How is this possible? Within this program we focus first of all on the prevention and etiology of victimization, by mapping risk factors and protective factors for victimization. We also map out the possible long-term consequences over the life-course and even over generations. Related to this we conduct research into prevention: what can be done with this knowledge to prevent (repeated) victimization?

Recovery and victims’ rights

We also focus on interventions and recovery. We investigate what works to reduce the chance of long-term consequences or adverse consequences of victimization. In addition, our research pays explicit attention to traditional and innovative forms of recovery. We investigate different forms of restitution and victims’ rights, we focus on the importance of recognition and we focus on different forms of compensation.

Examining victimization from different disciplines

Within this research program we want to renew national and international research into victimization in the coming years. We do this by examining victimization and the consequences for society from different perspectives and disciplines, and by applying innovative methods. We work together with, among others, the Victim Support Fund (Fonds Slachtofferhulp) and Victim Support Netherlands (Slachtofferhulp Nederland), and with various institutions abroad such as Victim Support Europe and the Global Survivors Fund.