U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Criminal Victimization, 1973-95

NCJ Number
163069
Author(s)
M R Rand; J P Lynch; D Cantor
Date Published
April 1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Statistics on violent crime rates in the United States between 1973 and 1995 showed that a decline in the violent crime rate beginning in 1994 interrupted a rising trend that existed after the mid-1980's.
Abstract

This report presents trend data for 1973-95 from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), including data collected both before and after a substantial methodological redesign that was implemented in 1992. Data collected prior to 1992 have been adjusted for this report to take into account methodological improvements introduced in the survey redesign. The report describes the overall trends for the NCVS-measured crimes of rape, robbery, aggravated and simple assault, household burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft, as well as for homicide as measured by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports. It includes a description of the method used to adjust the NCVS data collected before 1992 as well as the underlying assumptions and limitations of the adjustment method.

Many of the graphics in this report are available from Key Facts at a Glance. Small versions of the charts and brief statements of findings are presented first with links to full size charts, additional information about the charts and findings, and the data that support the chart.

See also The Effects of the Redesign on Victimization Estimates.