NCJ Number
228614
Date Published
2008
Length
22 pages
Annotation
After providing an overview of the features of the Italian national victimization survey (Citizen's Safety Survey), this paper addresses its main achievements, its methodology, and its findings for 2002.
Abstract
The Citizen's Safety Survey (CSS) provides information about the volume of crime in Italy based on citizen reports of whether or not they have been victimized by the specific crime mentioned in the CSS, as well as the impact their victimization has had on their lives. The survey sample includes persons ages 14 and over. Other information obtained by the CSS includes victim characteristics and lifestyle; offender characteristics; and how, when, and where the offense occurred. The CSS also solicits information on respondents' fear of crime, incivility index perception, opinion of the police, and security measures adopted to protect property. This data from the CSS are analyzed to determine the victimization prevalence rate, incidence and concentration rates, and sexual offenses. These analyses are reported for the 2002 CSS. The CSS is conducted every 5 years. A computer-assisted telephone interview is used. Depending an the answers given, the interview involves various structured follow-up questions. The sampling design consists of a two-stage sample, stratified at the first stage by region and type of municipality. All the sociodemographic areas are represented. Interviewer selection and training is a critical feature of the methodology. Survey proceedings are monitored regularly as they are being conducted. The average length of the interview is 22 minutes. 11 figures, 7 tables, and 15 references