Race and Hispanic Origin of Victims and Offenders, 2012-15

• NCJ Number: 250747
• Author(s): Rachel E. Morgan
• Date Published: October 2017
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Series: BJS Special Reports
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Survey; Statistics; Report (Annual/Periodic)

Annotation

This report presents the number, rates, and victim-offender relationships of violent victimizations that were interracial (victim and offender of different races or Hispanic origin) and intraracial (victim and offender of the same race or Hispanic origin) for the years 2012-15.

Abstract

Presents estimates of violent victimization (rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault) by the race and Hispanic origin of victims and offenders during the 4-year period from 2012 through 2015. This report examines victim, offender, and incident characteristics, such as crime type, victim-offender relationship, and reporting to police. Findings are based on data from BJS's National Crime Victimization Survey, which collects information on nonfatal crimes, reported and not reported to the police, against persons age 12 or older.

• During 2012-15, half (51%) of violent victimizations were intraracial, that is both victims and offenders were the same race or both were of Hispanic origin.
• In the majority of violent victimizations, white victims' offenders were white (57%) and black victims' offenders were black (63%).
• The rates of total violent crime, serious violent crime, and simple assault were higher for intraracial victimizations than for interracial victimizations.
• From 1994 to 2015, white-on-white violence (down 79%) and black-on-black violence (down 78%) declined at a similar rate.
• During 2012-15, there were no differences among white, black, and Hispanic intraracial victimizations reported to police.