NCJ Number
69461
Journal
Australian Journal of Social Issues Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 192-200
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH WHETHER IT IS THE MIDDLE CLASS WHO HAVE MOST TO FEAR FROM CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION AND TO COMPARE THE VICTIMIZATION RATES OF THE UNEMPLOYED WITH THOSE THAT HAVE JOBS IN AUSTRALIA.
Abstract
RESEARCHERS SURVEYED 8,414 HOUSEHOLDS WHICH INCLUDED 18,694 PEOPLE OVER AGE 15. INTERVIEW DATA WERE GATHERED ON ALL VICTIMIZATIONS DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS ON BREAKING AND ENTERING; MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT; ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE; THEFT; FRAUD, FORGERY, AND FALSE PRETENCES; PEEPING (ONLY FEMALES WERE ASKED); INDECENT EXPOSURE (ONLY FEMALES); RAPE AND ATTEMPTED RAPE (ONLY FEMALES); NUISANCE CALLS; AND ASSAULT. IT WAS FOUND THAT IT IS THE WEALTHY WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF VEHICLE THEFT, FRAUD, FORGERY, FALSE PRETENCES, AND COMMON THEFT, WHILE IT IS THE POOR WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE THE VICTIMS OF BREAKING AND ENTERING. ALL OTHER OFFENSES SHOWED INCONSISTENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH INCOME. THE UNEMPLOYED SHOWED HIGHER RATES OF VICTIMIZATION FOR THEFT, BREAKING AND ENTERING, PEEPING, ASSAULT, ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE, AND INDECENT EXPOSURE THAN THOSE WHO WERE EMPLOYED FULL TIME. HOWEVER, THE UNEMPLOYED WERE LESS VICTIMIZED FOR MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, NUISANCE CALLS, FRAUD, FORGERY, AND FALSE PRETENCES, BUT THE FINDINGS FOR THE LATTER THREE CRIMES WERE EXPECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE IN BUSINESS ARE USUALLY THE VICTIMS OF THOSE CRIMES. THESE FINDINGS COMPARED FAVORABLY TO THOSE IN THE U.S. AS UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAD HIGHER RATES FOR RAPE, ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE, ASSAULT, AND THEFT, WHILE LOWER INCOME GROUPS HAD HIGHER RATES FOR RAPE, ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE, AND ASSAULT. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE UNEMPLOYED IN AUSTRALIA ARE AN UNDERCLASS WHO EXPERIENCE A HIGHER LEVEL OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION THAN THAT EXPERIENCED BY EITHER THE WEALTHY OR THE EMPLOYED MANUAL WORKER. TABLES AND SIX REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.