VICTIM PROFILING

Željko Bjelajac

doi:10.51738/kpolisa.2025.1r.003

Authors

Željko Bjelajac Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary in Novi Sad, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4953-8779

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51738/kpolisa.2025.1r.003

Keywords:

victim profiling, victimology, criminal profiling, victim interaction, approach method, attack method, risk assessment

Abstract

This paper analyzes victims in the process of criminal profiling, with a particular focus on the role of their characteristics in the offender's selection process. The aim of the research is to identify key elements of victimological profiles and assess how social, psychological, and behavioral factors influence the likelihood of becoming a victim. The research questions include: What factors contribute to the selection of a specific victim? How do lifestyle and routine affect the risk of victimization? In what ways can victim analysis contribute to identifying perpetrators and preventing future crimes? The central hypothesis of this study is that there is a clear connection between a victim's characteristics, lifestyle, and the risk of victimization. It is assumed that criminals deliberately select victims based on their vulnerabilities, routines, and social traits, and that analyzing these factors can lead to more effective crime resolution and improved prevention strategies. The research relies on both deductive and inductive analysis of available studies, legal documents, and statistical crime data. Methods used include victimological analysis, case analysis, and comparative evaluation of existing victim profiling models.

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