Problems of Forensic Sciences 2012 Vol. 92 (XCII) 283-299
THE EXPERIENCE OF SECONDARY VICTIMISATION RESULTING FROM PARTICIPATION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND THE SELF-ESTEEM OF CRIME VICTIMS
Aleksandra PALUCH
Trainee barrister at the District Bar Council, Kraków, Poland
Streszczenie
The research involved seventy-six crime victims completing Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale and a questionnaire designed to measure the subjective influence of criminal proceedings. The results indicated no significant differences in self-esteem between those participating and not participating in proceedings, yet the level of self-esteem in those groups was significantly lower than in the control group (n = 25). The criminal proceedings were assessed negatively by the victims, but the results indicating secondary victimisation were obtained only at the preparatory stage of the proceedings. A hierarchic regression analysis was conducted to identify the predictors of secondary victimisation. As in the primary German study, the predictors were procedural justice and satisfaction with the results of the proceedings. The hypothesis that experiencing secondary victimisation influences self-esteem was not confirmed. The possible causes and implications of the results are discussed.
Słowa kluczowe
Criminal proceedings; Secondary victimisation; Victims’ self-esteem.