Julien Chopin

This scoping review examines how victimization has been conceptualized and studied within a developmental perspective, and assesses how closely empirical work reflects the core assumptions of developmental victimology. A total of 70 studies published between 1987 and 2025 were reviewed. The analysis focused on how victimization is measured, particularly in relation to cumulative exposure and analytical strategies, as well as on the extent to which developmental timing, ecological contexts, and outcomes are incorporated into empirical designs. The findings point to a consistent gap between theoretical propositions and empirical practices. Although cumulative exposure is widely used, it is operationalized in different and sometimes incompatible ways, most often through additive measures that overlook the configuration of experiences. Developmental timing and context are frequently acknowledged but rarely examined directly, largely because of the dominance of cross-sectional designs. In parallel, outcomes tend to be treated as static measures rather than as processes unfolding over time. Taken together, the results suggest that developmental victimology currently operates more as a general framework guiding research questions than as an integrated approach capable of capturing the dynamic nature of victimization across the life course.

Purpose: Existing research has conceptualized criminal expertise among sexual offenders through the combined examination of modus operandi sophistication and detection avoidance strategies. This study investigated whether forensic and investigative awareness strategies, considered independently from the modus operandi, constitute a meaningful indicator of criminal expertise. Methods: The sample comprised 1349 solved cases of sexual assault with penetration committed by male strangers against adult female victims in France between 2001 and 2018. A latent class analysis was conducted using six detection avoidance variables, followed by bivariate analyses to assess the external validity of the identified classes. Results: Five distinct classes emerged, forming a coherent continuum of criminal expertise ranging from Novices, characterized by minimal use of avoidance strategies, to Experts, who combined diverse forensic and investigative awareness strategies. A hierarchical progression from investigative to forensic strategies was observed across classes. External validity analyses showed significant associations between class membership, modus operandi sophistication and offender characteristics. Conclusions: Detection avoidance strategies alone appear to provide a meaningful indicator of criminal expertise among sexual offenders. These findings support a continuum‐based conceptualization of expertise and highlight the value of detection avoidance behaviours for crime scene analysis, offender profiling and the study of criminal decision‐making.

Sexual homicide (SH) constitutes a rare form of violent crime, representing only a small proportion of all homicides (Beauregard & Martineau, 2016). Because of its infrequency, early studies on thi...

Although relatively rare, sexual homicide has stimulated research efforts to better understand and intervene in the prevention of such crime. However, specific high-risk victims such as sex-trade workers have been understudied. To contribute to the limited scientific literature on this topic, the current study examines the characteristics of the sexual victimization of sex-trade workers using a sample of 402 lethal and non-lethal cases. Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the lethal outcome associated with the sexual victimization of sex-trade workers may not be associated with sadism and paraphilic behaviors, but rather by excessive violence and victim’s vulnerabilities. Conjunctive analysis further indicated that the combination of excessive violence, victim’s intoxication, situational factors, and crime characteristics was associated with lethal sexual victimization of sex-trade workers. Findings suggest strategies in the development of situational prevention and intervention strategies.

This scoping review investigates crime victimization prevention interventions among sex workers. Using the PRISMA method, we reviewed 11 papers referring to 8 studies that targeted the reduction of sex workers' victimization. Effective strategies identified include community mobilization, peer-led outreach, establishment of safe spaces, legal empowerment, sociocultural activities, financial literacy training, and alcohol harm reduction initiatives. These approaches demonstrated significant reductions in victimization, improvements in community cohesion, and enhanced access to essential resources and support systems, thereby promoting the safety and well-being of sex workers. However, several challenges were also identified, such as high attrition rates, contamination, underreporting due to stigma, and variability in effectiveness across different socio-cultural and geographic contexts. Despite the potential of these interventions, further research is needed, particularly from a criminological perspective, to better understand how these strategies can be refined and applied to improve the safety and well-being of sex workers.