BURGLARY AND THE PUBLIC - A VICTIMOLOGICAL APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE (FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING, 1977 BY JOSEPH E SCOTT, AND SIMON DINITZ - SEE NCJ-44975)

• NCJ Number: 44981
• Author(s): I WALLER; N OKIHIRO
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto; Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CONCEPTUALIZATION AND INITIAL FINDINGS OF A STUDY CONCERNED WITH FACTORS IN TARGET SELECTION BY BURGLARS AND WITH THE IMPACT OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY ON VICTIMS AND ON THE PUBLIC ARE REPORTED.

Abstract

THE THREE-PART STUDY INCLUDED A REVIEW OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY IN TORONTO, CANADA, DURING 1971, INTERVIEWS WITH CONVICTED BURGLARS ON HOW THEY CHOSE THEIR VICTIMS, AND A SURVEY OF 1,655 TORONTO HOUSEHOLDS. TENTATIVE FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED ON VARIATIONS IN RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY RATES, POLICE AND VICTIM DATA, VICTIM REACTIONS TO RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD BURGLARY, AND BURGLARY SELF-REPORTS. AMONG THE MAJOR FINDINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY RATE IN TORONTO IS LOW IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER CITIES; (2) 38 PERCENT OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN TORONTO ARE NOT REPORTED; (3) TWO-THIRDS OF THE VICTIMS WHO CALLED THE POLICE WERE SATISFIED WITH POLICE ACTION; (4) A VERY LARGE PROPORTION OF VICTIMS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, SUFFERED LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS (E.G., INCREASED SUSPICION OR DISTRUST) AS A RESULT OF VICTIMIZATION; (5) MOST PEOPLE WORRIED LITTLE OR NOT AT ALL ABOUT BEING BURGLARIZED; (6) MOST PEOPLE WERE RELATIVELY LENIENT IN THEIR VIEWS ABOUT SENTENCES FOR BURGLARS; AND (7) ABOUT 11 PERCENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY RESPONDENTS REPORTED HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN PERPETRATING A BURGLARY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.