ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to trace the origins and the emergence of victimology as an academic discipline and to discuss how this has contributed to the status of the victim as a significant actor in the criminal justice process. In order to do this, it is necessary to critically analyse the theoretical and conceptual frameworks that have developed as a consequence of the different ‘types’ of victims and their very different treatment within the criminal justice system. It is equally important to identify and define
those who are victims of crime and to understand those social factors which may render them ‘victim prone’ or contribute to their victim status.
