Ninety Six percent of child abductions are of children between the ages of 12 and 17 years of age. As well, statistics show that more female children are victims of stranger abductions than males. In relation to Canadian statistics this does not appear to be a typical victimization. For one, it is a stranger abduction as opposed to the more common type of abduction found in Canada, that of parental abduction. Sean is younger than the average age of victims of abductions. And finally more female children are more likely than males to be victims of stranger/acquaintance kidnappings. .
This particular case can be classified as a criminal victimization because it occurred as a result of criminal actions taken by the abductors. As well, this classifies as an individual personal violent crime, because it involves one particular child of one particular family. As well, it is of violent nature and involves the mistreatment and kidnapping of a child. .
The primary victimization was the actual abduction of Sean. He was taken from Central Park by the offenders and tied up to a bed, his eyes were covered with duct tape and he was subject to dirty and scary conditions. A secondary victimization occurs when the Shaker manages to rid himself of his associates and emerge as a hero in the case. The family has offered Shaker a monetary reward and he takes it upon himself to retrieve this award early at the Mullen's home in order to leave the country. As Tom is writing Shaker a cheque Sean appears in the hallway and upon hearing his father thank Shaker for saving his son and seeing his mother hug Shaker wets himself. Sean appears frightened and horrified at the site. He runs to hide in his tent for protection. In this case Sean is re-victimized at the hand of the offender and his parents. A second example of secondary victimization occurs during a phone call that takes place between Tom and Shaker in the negotiations in which you hear a gunshot go off and both Tom and Katherine believe their child has been murdered.