RT Article
T1 Legal treatment of the victim-offender relationship in crimes of violence
JF Journal of interpersonal violence
VO 11
IS 1
SP 94
OP 106
A1 Simon, L. M. J.
LA English
YR 1996
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1639651098
AB Prior theory and research indicate that the victim-offender relationship is an important factor in determining how an offender is treated at various stages of the criminal justice system, with stranger offenders faring worse than nonstranger offenders in all stages of legal processing. This study investigates whether the victim-offender relationship plays a role in determining the original charge, the crime conviction, and the sentence length of inmates in prison for violent crimes. Data consist of interview and official record information of 273 sentenced and incarcerated violent male offenders. The results indicate that the victim-offender relationship is related to the legal processing, but in paradoxical ways. Thus, although nonstranger offenders are charged with and convicted of more serious crimes, stranger offenders receive significantly longer sentences. Implications for policy and future research are discussed
K1 Opferhilfe
K1 Täter-Opfer-Ausgleich
K1 Gewaltdelikte