SCHOLAR: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A VICTIM?

Yes, I have been a victim in the past. I was on my way to the liquor store and once I had purchased my liquor, I made my way to my home. However, on my way home I had been attacked by a group of young teenagers. This was a case of assault and battery. Assault is the verbal threatening of an individual. Battery can be described as the physical attack. It was really was one of the most frightening events in my life. In my analysis of this attack, I believe that the correlates of age and gender had a role to play in this victimization. These people were teenagers and probably they were bored and had nothing else better to do. They were also boys, which means they are probably more aggressive. These two correlates along with the fact that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time were probably the cause of the attack. This attack falls in line with social disorganization theory as it was in Newton. Newton can be considered a transitional zone where marginalization and poverty are rampant. This would therefore cause people to commit crime. Once the attackers had gone, I had to seek help from a nearby home wherein they called the ambulance who then took me to the hospital. I was treated for a fracture and advised to get assistance from the Crime Victim Assistance Program. This is a program that is available in the lower mainland which helps people who have been victimized. They organize services in order to rehabilitate an individual back to the community. I feel that the Crime Victim Assistance program needs to take a closer look at the victim’s circumstance, situation and scenario. I attempted to explain this to them however, they were unable to assist me as they felt that I was no longer being victimized. They said that there needed to be a continuous threat or risk to life in order for them to do anything further. I attempted to send my appeals for assistance to them, being mindful of other potential victims. I did this in such a way that I attempted to advocate for myself and all other potential victims. I did this in a way that I requested that they consider alternative treatments for fractures such as tanning which would allow vitamin D to be absorbed which would evidently assist in the healing of the fracture. I also requested of them to commence legislation to relieve these victims of tax’s to their purchases for the duration that they are in recovery. I also requested that they take a closer look at the persons socioeconomic situation. And lastly, I also requested that they put these victims in a safe place, such as a school, in order for them to recuperate their support systems. I feel the Crime Victim Assistance Program was ineffective in my case because they were unable to provide a solution to any of my actual problems. I was essentially left alienated more than ever. This lack of assistance led me to evidently sue them in Supreme Court however, I did not have the technical know how to further my case. In my studies here at KPU I have made concessions to rectify this and I am satisfied with the progress I have made. Although, I still experience resentment for the lack of support I received.