Low Self-Control and Cybercrime Victimization: An Examination of Indirect Effects Through Risky Online Behavior

Research has established that individuals lower in self-control are at increased risk of offline criminal victimization due to their proclivity to engage in risky routine activities. While some studies have investigated whether a similar pattern is observed in the online context, additional inquiry into whether the link between low self-control and cybercrime victimization operates indirectly through risky online behavior is warranted given certain measurement and methodological limitations of prior research. Using original data collected on a sample of young adults, we find that the association between low self-control and a variety measure of cybercrime victimization operates entirely and indirectly through a variety measure of risky online behaviors. The implications of this finding for policy and programing are discussed.

Determinants of fear of crime in Brazil

While some studies suggest that the nature of one´s interactions with the community influences one’s perceived risk of criminal victimization, only a few pieces of research have tested this association in Brazil. Using four previously existing Brazilian victimization surveys, we conducted logistic models to examine whether social ties and social cohesion are associated with perceived risk and fear of crime. The results showed that only in some contexts did social cohesion manifest an association with fear of crime. Specifically, two components of social cohesion may be relevant for this purpose: trusting neighbours and getting help; and the ability to distinguish neighbours from strangers in the street.

Happiness and Criminal Victimization: A Study of Relationship and Restoration

Even well-developed nations with the highest economic growth rates have failed to bring happiness amongst their citizens. Consequently, recent studies have shifted their focus from economic variables, such as Human Development Index (HDI), gross development product (GDP) per capita, etc., to happiness as an indicator of growth, development and social progress. Amidst others, criminal victimization is one of the important indicators of happiness. The present article intends to study the relationship between happiness using the happiness measurement index and criminal victimization using the crime statistics of selected nations. It consists of a descriptive statistical analysis of six nations selected based on their happiness score, including two nations each with a high, average and low happiness measurement index. The results show that people living in nations with high crime rates were less happy and satisfied than individuals living in nations with comparatively lower crime rates. However, the article could not conclusively establish the relation between the happiness level and the nature of crime.

AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON PREVENTING SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN

Sexual abuse against children in Malaysia has been consistently on the rise. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia has stated that a total of 1,721 cases of sexual crimes against children were recorded in the first half of 2020. Most offenders in such cases were family members, guardians and those close to the children. This is an alarming number. Islam treats sexual abuse against children as a serious offence that must be strictly curbed. In Islam, any sexual activity out of wedlock is condemned and considered as a punishable act. It is even worse when the act is committed against the will of victim or it is committed against those who are physically and mentally weak as well as those whose consent is not yet valid such as children. This article discusses measures to prevent sexual abuse against children which are derived from the Shari`ah principles. It adopts a doctrinal study of existing primary and secondary materials relating to theories of victimization and methods to prevent criminal victimization against children from the Islamic perspectives. Hence, Shari’ah texts and juristic views on the relevant issues are essential to be analysed. The finding of this article confirms that Islam has a unique approach to deal with this issue and to even prevent the crime before it is committed. Islam suggests proactive steps that could be observed by individuals, guardians, the community as well as authorities concerned to ensure that the children are protected and do not become gullible victims.

Gender Identity Disparities in Criminal Victimization: National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–2018

Objectives. To estimate the prevalence of personal and household victimizations among transgender people in the United States. Methods. We analyzed pooled 2017 and 2018 data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, the first nationally representative sample that allows identification of transgender respondents. Results. Transgender people experienced 86.2 victimizations per 1000 persons compared with cisgender people’s 21.7 per 1000 persons (odds ratio [OR] = 4.24; 90% confidence interval [CI] = 1.49, 7.00). Households that had a transgender person had higher rates of property victimization (214.1 per 1000 households) than households with only cisgender people (108 per 1000 households; OR = 2.25; 90% CI = 1.19, 3.31). Transgender victims whose sex assigned at birth was male were more likely to perceive their victimization as a hate crime than cisgender victims whose sex assigned at birth was male. There were no disparities in reporting victimizations to authorities: only about half of the victimizations of both transgender and cisgender people were reported. Conclusions. Public policy and administration need to consider the unique vulnerabilities transgender people routinely encounter, resulting in disparities in criminal victimization.