NCJ Number
134973
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report presents comparative results from similar 1989 victimization surveys in Australia, 10 other countries, and the three major administrative units of the United Kingdom, with attention to the implications of the findings for Australia.
Abstract
Survey questions included details of criminal victimizations over the previous 5 years and the subjects' responses to them including degree of satisfaction with police efforts. Findings indicate that Australian crime rates were in some respects very high compared with most other comparable countries. Australia ranked third highest of the 14 countries in overall victimization, behind the other two non-European countries, i.e., the United States and Canada. Australia ranked the highest in assaults that involved force, in the less serious types of sexual crimes, in burglary, and in motor vehicle thefts. Given these results, it was surprising to find that nearly 80 percent of Australian crime victims expressed satisfaction with the police response to their problem; 75 percent perceived that the police were doing reasonably well in controlling crime in their neighborhoods. Australia is one of the most highly urbanized of the nations surveyed which explains most of the difference between the risk of crime in Australia and elsewhere. Other factors that contribute to the risk of victimization are high living standards and high labor participation, especially for women. The survey results indicate the need for Australia to develop a national crime prevention strategy. 4 figures and 5 tables