Commercial Interests: Selling Security Products and Services to Victims
Just as the rediscovery of victims by elected offi- cials and the news media has benefits as well as drawbacks, so too does the new attention paid to injured parties by businesses. An emerging market of people seeking out protective services and anti- theft devices simultaneously raises the possibility of meeting consumer needs but also of commercially exploiting these eager customers. Profiteers can engage in fear mongering and false advertising in order to cash in on the legitimate concerns and desires of individuals who feel particularly vulner- able and even panicky. In situations where entre- preneurs issue bold claims about some gadget’s effectiveness, objectivity takes the form of scien- tific skepticism. Victimologists must represent the public interest and demand, “Prove those asser- tions about this product or service! Where is the evidence?”
Consider the question of whether expensive automobile security systems actually work as well as their manufacturers’ advertisements say they do. For instance, do car alarms really deliver the layer of protection against break-ins that their purchasers seek and that sales pitches promise? In New York, the City Council passed regulations restricting the installation of new car alarms because the devices were deemed to be largely ineffective as well as a serious source of noise pollution. Rather than
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agreeing with frustrated motorists that the wailing sirens do no good, or trying to defend the alarm indus- try’s reputation and profits, nonpartisan victimologists can independently evaluate the effectiveness of these antitheft devices.
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