How did victimology shift from blaming victims to studying victims' needs and rights?

Early victimology in the 1940s and 1950s often focused on victim-offender interactions, with some pioneers suggesting that victims might share responsibility for their own misfortunes through behaviors like carelessness or provocation. This perspective was sometimes used by defense attorneys to mitigate offender punishment.1

However, this focus on victim blameworthiness shifted significantly by the 1970s. The field moved toward prioritizing the prevention of victimization, improving the treatment of complainants within the justice system, and facilitating the recovery of injured parties. This transition was driven by several factors:1

• The Victims’ Rights Movement: Advocacy groups won concessions that empowered victims, ensuring their needs and interests were no longer overlooked by legal institutions.1
• Support Services: The rise of self-help organizations, such as rape-crisis centers and battered women’s shelters, highlighted the necessity of providing tangible support.1
• Legislative Reform: New laws began allowing victims greater input into judicial processes, including sentencing and parole decisions.1
• Restorative Justice: The emergence of restorative justice shifted the focus toward mediation, restitution, and the offender’s responsibility to repair harm, rather than solely punishing the perpetrator.1