NCJ Number
17785
Date Published
1975
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF REPORTS, THIS DOCUMENT PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF SURVEY OF 3950 HOUSEHOLDS TO DETERMINE LEVELS OF VICTIMIZATION AND CRIME REPORTING TO POLICE FOR THE CRIMES OF RAPE, ASSAULT, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY.
Abstract
THIS SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE ACTUAL, AS OPPOSED TO REPORTED LEVELS OF VICTIMIZATION, TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP DATA ON A 1972 LEAA-SPONSORED VICTIMIZATION SURVEY AND ASSESS VICTIMIZATION CHANGES SINCE THAT TIME, AND TO PROVIDE BASELINE DATA FOR FUTURE SURVEYS. THIS SURVEY ALSO COLLECTED INFORMATION ON OUTLYING AREAS AND ON GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITHIN THE CITY TO ENABLE EVALUATION OF CRIME DISPLACEMENT EFFECTS OF ANTI-CRIME PROGRAMS. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT ALTHOUGH BURGLARIES REPORTED TO POLICE INCREASED, THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL BURGLARY VICTIMIZATIONS IN 1973-74 DECREASED FROM 1971-72 LEVELS. THE INCIDENT RATE FOR RAPES, ROBBERIES AND ASSAULTS WAS NOT FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER IN 1973-74 THAN IT WAS IN 1971-72, ALTHOUGH THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS ON THESE CRIMES WAS LESS CONCLUSIVE THAN FOR BURGLARIES. THE SHORT TERM FLUCTUATIONS IN THE OFFICIAL CRIME RATE SHOWED A REMARKABLE CORRESPONDENCE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PROPORTION OF ALL CRIMES WHICH VICTIMS SAID THEY REPORTED TO POLICE. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE PROPORTION OF CRIMES REPORTED SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN ANALYZING SHORT TERM CRIME TRENDS. FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE SURVEY METHODS, SEE NCJ-17784.