NCJ Number
54888
Date Published
1977
Length
46 pages
Annotation
THE MAGNITUDE AND DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINALITY WERE EXAMINED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH A SAMPLE OF DUTCH CRIME VICTIMS BETWEEN 1974 AND 1977.
Abstract
AS POLICE STATISTICS DO NOT PRESENT A RELIABLE PICTURE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINALITY IN THE NETHERLANDS, VICTIM INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED AMONG A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION. THE PERCENTAGE OF VICTIMS OF BICYCLE THEFTS, PICKPOCKETING, COLLISION WITH CARS, AND VANDALISM WAS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER IN 1976 THAN IN 1975. NO CHANGE WAS OBSERVED IN THE NUMBER OF CAR THEFTS, BURGLARIES AND INCIDENCE OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. THE AMOUNT OF MO-PED THEFTS DECREASED. CRIME REPORTED IN THE INTERVIEWS WERE ON THE AVERAGE LESS SERIOUS THAN CRIMES REGISTERED BY THE POLICE. YOUNG PEOPLE (ESPECIALLY MEN) AND INHABITANTS OF LARGE CITIES WERE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME CRIME VICTIMS. THE CHANCE OF BECOMING A VICTIM OF A BURGLARY WAS FAR GREATER FOR THE HIGHEST SOCIAL CLASS. HALF OF THE VICTIMS HAD REPORTED THE CRIME TO THE POLICE. THOSE WHO DID NOT REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE POLICE EITHER DID NOT CONSIDER THE CRIME SERIOUS ENOUGH OR SEEMED TO THINK THAT NOTIFICATION WOULD NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME DID INFLUENCE THE DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO GO TO THE POLICE. DIFFERENT POPULATION GROUPS SEEMED EQUALLY MOTIVATED IN REPORTING CRIMES TO THE POLICE. CRIMINALITY IS ON THE RISE IN THE NETHERLANDS, ESPECIALLY SINCE 1976. HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE CRIME IS RELATIVELY MINOR. NO RELATIONSHIP HAS YET BEEN FOUND BETWEEN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CRIME AND FEELINGS OF UNSAFENESS. STATISTICAL TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE TEXT. FOR RELATED DOCUMENT, SEE NCJ # 54889. --IN DUTCH. (WVK)