Victimization surveys in juvenile crime are the surveys that seek to identify the people who are affected by juvenile criminal activities. Recent surveys indicate that children are frequent targets of crime. The criminals, both juveniles and adults, seem to target children as their victims for various reasons. Criminologists suggest that children should be protected always to avoid cases of children falling victims of criminal activities. Therefore, the governments, judicial systems and policy makers should introduce and implement policies that will reduce the increasing cases of children victimization.
Victimizers of children crime are all kinds of criminals. They include kidnappers, armed robbers, cons, other juvenile criminals and domestic criminals. Kidnappers would target children to demand ransom from their parents. In this case, the children are the victims; they are at the mercy of the kidnappers. Armed robbers will attack places where children are, this is because children are insecure and easy to rob. Juvenile criminals target their peers whom they can easily deal with. This will include crimes like rape, armed robbery, theft and harassment. Domestic criminals are those criminals who are within the household. They include children defilers and they can be part of the family, workers or relatives.
Children victimization is as a result of certain circumstances. Children could be prone to victimization because they are insecure. Criminals take advantage of this situation by attacking children so as to rob their parents. Criminals also prefer areas where children are, this is because areas like schools, children homes and other children centers are likely to have property and precious property. Most of these cases occur in circumstances where there is less security is not beefed up. The criminals usually target children because the children are not able to communicate and give defend themselves. Therefore, children victimization is a major problem which should be dealt with accordingly to protect children.
Reference
Elrod, P., & Ryder, R. S. (2011). Juvenile Justice: A Social, Historical and Legal Perspective (3, revised ed.). Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
