Revictimization:Another impact of being a crime victim is the increased potential for revictimization
Another impact of being a crime victim is the increased potential for revictimization. Revictimization is experiencing new crimes, sometimes as the result of behavioral changes; other times it is because of community and life circumstances. Some victims change their behaviors after their first victimization, which can increase the likelihood of revictimization. For example, increased drinking or drug use in order to deal with prior victimizations can increase the potential for future ones. In addition, as discussed in earlier modules, the community you live in, and your lifestyle can increase the odds of victimization, which can be beyond the victims’ control (Ruback, Clark, & Warner, 2014).
These are just some of the physical and mental costs of victimization. In future modules we will discuss the role of help-seeking on recovering from victimization as well as go into depth about the impact of specific types of victimization. In the next section, we will discuss the financial implications of crime to the victim, businesses, and organizations, as well as the impact of crime on society.