Question

'Penal Couple' are referred to as:

• A. two partners who are friends and commit crime together
• B. husband and wife committing crime together
• C. the offender and the victim
• D. the police and the offender

Hint:

Victimology studies not only criminals but also victims and their interaction with offenders during the crime process.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:

• Victimology is the scientific study of victims, including the relationship between victims and offenders.
• The concept of the "Penal Couple" emphasizes that crime is often a dynamic interaction between two parties rather than an isolated act by one.

Step 1: Identify the origin of the term
The term "Penal Couple" (couple pénal) was coined by Benjamin Mendelsohn, who is often regarded as the 'Father of Victimology'. Mendelsohn used this term to describe the intrinsic social and psychological link between the two primary actors in a crime.

Step 2: Understand the meaning of the term
In this context, the "couple" does not refer to a romantic or marital relationship. It refers to the Offender and the Victim. The theory suggests that the behavior, characteristics, and actions of the victim can influence the behavior of the offender and vice versa.

Step 3: Analyze the sociological significance
By studying the penal couple, criminologists can understand concepts like 'victim precipitation' (where the victim's actions trigger the crime). It moves the focus away from a purely offender-centric view of criminology.

Step 4: Conclusion
Since the term specifically defines the duo of the criminal and the person they targeted, option (C) is correct.