Electronic jail revisited

Our study examines the prevalence and consequences of criminal victimization in a quota sample of homeless adults. This already besieged population experienced considerably higher rates of victimization than the general population and those in poverty. A majority of homeless victims could not identify their offender and were the victims of a violent crime. Although we found clear differences between the homeless and the comparison populations in the victimization episode, our results also suggest significant differences between homeless victims and homeless nonvictims. Victims had higher incomes and a greater fear of the streets, were more depressed, had a history of mental hospitalization, and experienced more physical symptoms. Finally, victimization was not a significant predictor of homeless persons' depression and mastery in our sample, unlike the cases of other, more specific samples and the general population. We argue that homelessness may be such an overwhelming life circumstance that single life events and their effect on mental health are masked by this ultimate state of victimization.