NCJ Number
78102
Date Published
1979
Length
50 pages
Annotation
Results of a national survey on crime victimization in Australia are reported by means of extensive tables along with brief narrative discussions.
Abstract
The study sample included 10,500 households in the 6 Australian States and the Australian Capital Territory. The sample included all areas of Australia except rural regions and locations with populations of less than 500 persons. Data were collected by means of personal interviews by trained interviewers from March to May 1975. The survey was designed to provide information on selected crimes, including unreported incidents, and on situations in which people may be most at risk for certain crimes. The crimes included breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft, robbery, theft, assault, sex offenses, fraud, forgery and false pretenses, and nuisance calls. The survey sought details such as whether victims knew the offenders, the location and time of day at which incidents occurred, whether the incidents were reported to the police, and reasons for nonreporting. Findings indicated that 11.7 percent of the population were the victims of one or more of the listed offenses in the preceding 12 months. Almost half of all victims were victims of theft in the 12 months prior to interview. Nuisance calls were the most common offense recorded, with an average of 5.6 calls per victim. The numbers of male victims and female victims were the same, but sex offenses accounted for about one-fifth of the offenses against females. Persons who were separated or divorced were more likely to be victims than others. Information is also presented on victims' age, country of birth, education, employment, income, and city size. Additional tables cover the time at which offenses occurred, location, offender's sex, reporting, value of goods taken in thefts, and motor vehicle thefts.