VICTIMOLOGY IN GLOBAL AND INDIAN PERSPECTIVES: EVOLUTION, IMPACT, LEGAL FRAMEWORKS, AND CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS

AUTHOR – MR. GANESH SHRIRANG NALE (SATARKAR), M.A. SOCIOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF HARYANA, MAHENDRAGARH

BEST CITATION – MR. GANESH SHRIRANG NALE (SATARKAR), VICTIMOLOGY IN GLOBAL AND INDIAN PERSPECTIVES: EVOLUTION, IMPACT, LEGAL FRAMEWORKS, AND CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (13) OF 2025, PG. 184-188, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

                              Victimology, the scientific study of victims and their interactions with offenders and the criminal justice system, has evolved significantly from its early marginal status in criminology to a prominent discipline influencing criminal justice reforms worldwide. This paper explores the historical, conceptual, and theoretical development of victimology in both global and Indian contexts. It discusses the emergence of victim rights movements, the 1985 United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, and the growing recognition of victims as central actors in justice systems. The study further examines the victim–offender relationship, psychological and financial impacts of victimization, and distinctions among primary, secondary, and tertiary victimization. The role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in providing victim assistance is analyzed, along with criminological theories such as routine activities, lifestyle exposure, and repeat victimization. The paper also explores legal perspectives on victim rights and compensation under the Indian Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and state schemes. Finally, it evaluates contemporary trends such as mass victimization, clinical and cyber victimology, therapeutic jurisprudence, and positive victimology. The findings emphasize that achieving justice for victims requires integrating international principles with culturally and legally relevant domestic frameworks. The study advocates for a holistic approach to victim support combining psychological recovery, legal protection, and social rehabilitation.

Keywords: Victimology, Victim-Offender Relationship, UN Declaration 1985, PTSD, Victim Compensation, NGOs, India, Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Cyber Victimology, Positive Victimology.