Repeat Victimization, Community Policing Strategies for

Recurring, or repeat, victimization of the same targets constitutes a large proportion of total crime victimization. Reducing inequality of crime victimization among people and places by reducing repeat victimization makes for an efficient use of limited policing resources and a service to equity in the distribution of victimization amongst citizens. A developing research base suggests that, implemented intelligently, prevention of repeat victimization can be a viable and effective strategy in community policing. A lack of knowledge about and systematic undercounting of chronic victimization stand in the way of recognition of the value of the strategy. This entry explains what repeat victimization is and how that knowledge can provide myriad advantages to officers who are engaged in community policing and problem solving.