Victimology

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Victimology: Jeffrey Rignall Ricci L Dyson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University PSY-530: Social and Cultural Psychology Dr. Julienne Long November 22, 2023

Victimology: Jeffrey Rignall Introduction Victimology, as a field of study, delves into the intricate web of factors surrounding individuals who have experienced harm, trauma, or criminal acts. In recent years, the focus on victims and their experiences has gained prominence within the broader context of criminology. This paper dives into a specific case to explain the growing body of knowledge in victimology by examining the multifaceted aspects of victimhood. Through a comprehensive examination of the key theories and empirical research in victimology, this paper seeks to provide a nuanced perspective on the diverse experiences of victims, ultimately contributing to a more informed and compassionate approach to addressing the needs of those who have suffered harm. Case Summary John Wayne Gacy, also known as the Killer Clown, would rape, bind, torture, and murder young men that he picked up (Kranc, 2022). From 1972 to 1978, Gacy worked as “Pogo the Clown” at children's parties. He would use the ruse to lure young men to his home, rape them, and then strangle them. Gacy stabbed one victim. In December of 1978, Gacy became a person of interest when Robert Piest went missing in the Des Plaines. On December 21, 1978, Chicago police secured a search warrant for Gacy’s home. This is where they found the majority of Gacy’s victims in the crawl space under his home. They also found other victims elsewhere on his property. In March of 1980, Gacy was convicted of killing 33 young men, and this made him “one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history (The Associated Press, 2021). Due to the evidence and Gacy’s confession, there was no question that he was guilty; the trial was hinged on whether Gacy was legally insane when he killed. Jeffery Rignall was the first dense witness to testify. Rignall had survived Gacy’s attack in March 1978. After the attack, Rignall had gone to the police, but they did not pursue charges against Gacy. Rignall was

chloroformed, taken to Gacy’s house, tortured, and sexually assaulted. Rignall inferred that Gacy could not have been in his right mind due to “the beastly and animalistic ways [Gacy] attacked [him] (Kettler, 2022).” Recounting his ordeal moved Rignall so much that he puked on the witness stand. On March 12, 1980, after the closing statements, the jury deliberated for an hour and 50 minutes. They returned with a guilty verdict. The next day, Gacy was sentenced to the death penalty. Gacy was executed in May 1994 (Kettler, 2022). Protection and Conditions In the criminal justice system, Jeffrey Rignall had rights as a victim. These rights included the right to fairness, dignity, and respect in treatment, as well as the right to know how his case was going. Although victim rights differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, they usually seek to guarantee victims receive sensitive treatment, are informed, and, to the extent permitted by law, have the chance to participate in the criminal justice system (U.S. Department of Justice, 2023). There were many conditions that led to Jeffery Rignall and Gacy’s other victims being chosen as victims. For starters, it was the Chicago police during the late 1970s. According to the Juazel Pieterse psychobiographical study, in 1977, there were over 19,000 people listed as missing by Chicago police. Of those missing persons, 6,700 were listed as children under the age of seventeen. Regardless of age, the Youth Division was responsible for all reported missing persons. In the Youth Division, there were a few clerical workers and 600 officers. The office had to deal with over 50 new cases per day, and they also had to carry out their traditional duties. Another reason that led to the victims being chosen was the poor technology. There were computers available for the data of missing persons, but these computers did not have the ability to recognize specific patterns. During the 1960s and 1970s, homicide started to rise dramatically,

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and serial killers became more common. There were approximately 35 serial killers estimated by the FBI (Pieterse, 2012). Specific Victimology In the case of Jeffrey Rignall, who was victimized by John Wayne Gacy, several victimology theories may help explain why he was chosen as a target. The first would be the routine activity theory. According to this idea, crime happens when three factors come together in location and time: a motivated criminal, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian (Schaefer & Mazerolle, 2017). In this instance, it’s possible that Gacy considered Rignall to be a good target while he was hitchhiking, and the conditions allowed Gacy to commit his crimes. Another would be the deviant place theory. According to this theory, there are some locations or localities where victims of crime are more likely to occur. In this instance, it's possible that Rignall stumbled into an environment or circumstance that favored Gacy's criminal activities (Grand Canyon University, 2019). Conclusion The case of John Wayne Gacy emphasizes victimology, emphasizing victims' resiliency and susceptibility to predatory perpetrators, such as Jeffrey Rignall. Victimology ideas that shed light on the processes of victimization include Deviant Place Theory and Routine Activity Theory. The Gacy-Rignall relationship influences victim assistance programs, law enforcement tactics, and the quest of victim justice by expanding our understanding of victimology.

References Grand Canyon University. (2019, September 16). 3 Modern Theories of Victimology . GCU. Retrieved November 21, 2023, from https://www.gcu.edu/blog/criminal-justice- government-and-public-administration/3-modern-theories-victimology Kettler, S. (2022, December 20). What Was John Wayne Gacy’s Murder Trial Like? A+E Networks EMEA. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.aetv.com/real- crime/gacys-trial Kranc, L. (2022, April 22). Questions About the John Wayne Gacy Murders Remain Unanswered . Esquire. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35923784/peacock- john-wayne-gacy-documentary-true-story-timeline/ Pieterse, J. (2012, January). Psychobiographical Study of John Wayne Gacy. Faculty of Health Sciences at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University . Schaefer, L., & Mazerolle, L. (2017, January). Putting process into routine activity theory: Variations in the control of crime opportunities. Security Journal , 30 (1), 266–289. https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2015.39 The Associated Press. (2021, October 26). Timeline of serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s life, case | AP News . AP News. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://apnews.com/article/chicago-2a5842ef8ee46f8d43799bc50f390ad8 U.S. Department of Justice. (2023, September 11). Rights of Victims . Environment and Natural Resources Division. Retrieved November 21, 2023, from https://www.justice.gov/enrd/environmental-crime-victim-assistance/rights- victims#:~:text=The%20right%20to%20be%20treated,bargain%20or%20deferred%20pr osecution%20agreement

Victimology

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