Why is society considered the victim of a crime rather than the individual vicimized?

Question

Why is society considered the victim of a crime rather than the individual vicimized?

Answer 1

Because laws are made with the intention of protecting the rights of ALL citizens collectively. It is these rights that the law seeks to protect. The law isn't obligated to give any one of us special protection as an individual, unless there is a special relationship prior to victimization. Therefore, when a person breaks a law, he has commited an atrocity against the rights of all citizens of that state, and, as such, is considered to be a threat to all other citizens in the same fashion in which he violated the victim of his crime.