Evolution of Legislation and Crimes Based on Sexual Identity or Orientation in Spain: A Retrospective Observational Study (2011–2021)

Respect for different sexual options and orientations prevents the occurrence of hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGTBI) persons for this reason. Our aim was to review the legislation that protects the rights of LGTBI people and to quantify the victimization rates of hate crimes based on sexual identity and orientation. A retrospective observational study was conducted across all regions of Spain from 2011–2021. The laws on LGTBI rights in each region were identified. Hate crime victimization data on sexual identity and orientation were collected in annual rates per 100,000 inhabitants, annual percentage change and average change during the study period to assess the trend. The regulatory development of laws against discrimination against LGTBI individuals is heterogeneous across regions. Overall, in Spain there is an upward trend in the number of hate crime victimizations motivated by sexual identity or orientation. The effectiveness of data collection, thanks to better training and awareness of police forces regarding hate crimes and the processes of data cleansing and consolidation contributes to a greater visibility of hate crimes against LGTBI people.

Do households with home security systems at home have a lower perceived probability of victimization?

Using the dataset of the first nationwide victimization survey in Azerbaijan, the current paper analyzed whether home security systems have a relationship with the perceived probability of property crime victimization. The ordinal logistic regression analysis was employed. The first set of results examining the distribution of security systems identified that despite the impact of certain demographics correlates, perceived risk is not a significant correlate of possession or absence of security systems. The presence of security measures at home was associated with a higher perceived probability of victimization level for acquisitive crimes. This study shows the importance of incorporating home security level as an independent variable. The choice of home as a unit of analysis when studying fear of victimization allowed us to ascertain not only the impact of home security systems on perceived victimization risks, but also to find out whether it is dwelling, demographic or neighborhood features that matter more in affecting sense of safety. The key findings of the study are that a) the level of home security systems is positively correlated with PPV, irrespective of individual-level characteristics, and b) perceived risk is not a statistically significant factor when it comes to a decision to purchase security systems.

Non-fatal gunshot injuries during criminal acts in Mexico, 2013–2019

IntroductionAs the volume of firearms (legal and illegal) in Mexico grows, gun violence has become a major public health challenge. While studies have focused on gun-related homicides and robberies, there is a dearth of research addressing non-fatal gunshot injuries. At the same time, official government sources report limited information and undercount these injuries.ObjectiveThe objective of this article is threefold. First, to provide data of non-fatal gunshot injuries sustained during crimes in Mexico; second, to estimate their initial individual healthcare costs; finally, to compare those costs to those resulting from other forms of injuries. This article contributes to discussions on gun violence in Mexico and its impact on public health.MethodsWe analysed Mexico’s National Crime Victimization Survey from 2014 to 2020.FindingsWe estimated that there were approximately 150 415 non-fatal gunshot injuries during crimes perpetrated from 2013 to 2019. We found that most non-fatal criminal gunshot injuries occur during a robbery and that victims tend to be men and young people between 18 and 35 years of age. Most of these injuries occur in urban areas and public spaces. While non-fatal gun-related injuries are not as common during crimes as other non-fatal injuries, their initial individual healthcare expenses are significantly higher. Crimes involving gun-related injuries reported an average expense of 16 643 pesos and crimes involving other forms of injuries reported an average of 1281 pesos. This discrepancy highlights the health burden associated with gun violence.

Identity Theft and Older Adults: How Minorities and the Poor Suffer the Worst Consequences

Society’s growing reliance on technology to transfer and store private information has created more opportunities for identity thieves to access personal data. Prior work using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Identity Theft Supplement (ITS) showed that baby boomers were significantly more likely than Millennials to be victims of identity theft and that older people and minorities experience more severe economic and psychological consequences. This study examines how socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and incident-specific factors relate to how much money is stolen during identity theft, the likelihood of experiencing out-of-pocket costs, and emotional distress among identity theft victims age 65 and older. Using combined data from the 2014 and 2016 NCVS-ITS, this study examines the correlates of financial and psychological consequences of identity theft among 2,307 victims age 65 and older. Older Black victims are more likely to have greater amounts of money stolen and are more likely feel distressed than older non-Latino white identity theft victims. The most disadvantaged older adults living at or below the federal poverty level are nearly five times as likely to suffer out-of-pocket costs. The length of time information is misused and the hours spent resolving identity theft are significantly associated with emotional distress. More than one-third of older victims experience moderate to severe emotional distress following identity theft, and those who can least afford it suffer out-of-pocket costs. Greater advocacy and psychological support are needed to help older adults recover, in addition to tools to protect their personal information from misuse.

Policing for Peace

In communities plagued by conflict along ethnic, racial, and religious lines, how does the representation of previously-marginalized groups in the police affect crime and security? Drawing on new evidence from policing in Iraq and Israel, Policing for Peace shows that an inclusive police force provides better services and reduces conflict, but not in the ways we might assume. Including members of marginalized groups in the police improves civilians' expectations of how the police and government will treat them, both now and in the future. These expectations are enhanced when officers are organized into mixed rather than homogeneous patrols. Iraqis indicate feeling most secure when policed by mixed officers, even more secure than they feel when policed by members of their own group. In Israel, increases in police officer diversity are associated with lower crime victimization for both Arab and Jewish citizens. In many cases, inclusive policing benefits all citizens, not just those from marginalized groups.

The financial and psychological impact of identity theft among older adults

Background and Objectives Society’s growing reliance on technology to transfer private information has created more opportunities for identity thieves to access and misuse personal data. Research on identity theft specifically among adults age 65 and older is virtually nonexistent, yet research focusing on victims of all ages indicates a positive association between age, minority status, and more severe economic and psychological consequences. Research Design and Methods Identity theft measures come from a sample of more than 2,000 self-reported victims age 65 and older from the nationally representative National Crime Victimization Survey Identity Theft Supplements administered in 2014 and 2016. Regression was used to examine how socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and incident-specific factors relate to how much money is stolen, the likelihood of experiencing out-of-pocket costs, and emotional distress among older identity theft victims. Results Older Black identity theft victims were more likely to have greater amounts of money stolen and were more likely feel distressed by the incident than older White victims. The most disadvantaged older adults living at or below the federal poverty level were significantly more likely to suffer out-of-pocket costs. The length of time information was misused, experiencing subsequent financial problems and problems with friends/family, and the hours spent resolving identity theft were positively associated with emotional distress. Among those age 65 and older, age was not significantly associated with losses or emotional distress. Discussion and Implications Older adults living in poverty need more resources to assist with recovery and reporting identity theft to law enforcement. Limiting the extent of losses from identity theft and reducing the length of time information is misused may reduce the emotional toll of identity theft on older victims.

To Report or Not to Report? A Focal Concerns Analysis of Victim Reporting Decisions Following Victimization

Sexual assault (SA) decision-making literature primarily focuses on criminal-legal actors and often overlooks victim decision making. This relative dearth in research is problematic, as victims are principal gatekeepers of the criminal-legal process who influence whether perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted. Subsequent victim support is also contingent on the reporting decision. Overall, this body of research would benefit from a better understanding of how victims activate and participate with the criminal-legal system and the potential impact of these decisions on criminal-legal processes. Moreover, victim decision making is often situated in a theoretical analyses. Victim decision making is complex and should be studied within a criminological decision-making framework. Therefore, the current study relies on National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data and applies a focal concerns perspective (FCP), informed by rape culture concepts, to examine why victims of sexual violence may or may not choose to report to legal authorities. The current study offers initial support for the application of FCP to victim reporting decisions. We found that victims consider each of the focal concerns (FC). Victims were more likely to report when offenders threatened them with harm (i.e., suspect blameworthiness), when the offense occurred in a private location (i.e., protection of the community), and when they sought help from victim support agencies or medical treatment (i.e., practical considerations). Additionally, we found that Black victims were more likely to report than other racial-ethnic groups (i.e., perceptual shorthand). These findings highlight a nexus between reporting to police and help-seeking via support agencies. Importantly, the results emphasize the importance for police to implement cultural competence and antiracist training to better support Black victims.

Green Criminology: Capitalism, Green Crime and Justice, and Environmental Destruction

Green criminology has developed into a criminological subfield with a substantial literature. That literature is so vast that a single review cannot do it justice. This article examines the definition of green crime, the historical development of green criminology, some major areas of green criminological research, and potential future developments. Unlike traditional criminology with its focus on human victims, green criminology recognizes that various living entities can be victims of the ways in which humans harm ecosystems. Green research thus explores crime, victimization, and justice from several theoretical positions that acknowledge these unique victims. Although green criminology contains several approaches, this review primarily focuses on political economic green criminology. The section titled The Definition, Overview, and Historical Development of Green Criminology identifies, but does not review in depth, other forms of green criminology. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Criminology, Volume 5 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.