NCJ Number
238753
Date Published
October 2011
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from the 2011 Montana Crime Victimization and Safety Survey, which obtained information from a random sample of 2,555 Montana residents regarding their criminal victimization and fear of crime.
Abstract
Over 93 percent of respondents felt "always" or "almost always" safe in their communities. Overwhelmingly, respondents were not fearful of being victims of a violent crime; however, 4 percent indicated that they "always" or "almost always" were fearful of being the victim of a violent crime. Twenty-nine percent of respondents reported that they would be fearful of being a crime victim within 1 mile of their home while walking alone at night. Just over 40 percent perceived that crime had "somewhat increased" or "greatly increased" over the past 3 years. Thirty-six percent of respondents had some contact with local law enforcement officers. Overall, 65 percent of respondents felt their local law enforcement agency was doing a "very good" or "good" job. Twenty-nine percent of respondents said they had experienced one of the property crimes listed in the survey questionnaire. Just over 10 percent of the respondents reported one or more incidents of violent crime. The violent crimes listed in the survey were stalking, simple assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and forcible rape. Of the respondents who indicated a crime was committed against them, 15 percent said that it impacted their lives "a lot" or "quite a lot."Forty percent indicated that the crime committed against them had "very little" impact on their lives. Forty four percent of respondents reported their victimizations to police. Less than 2 percent sought help from a victim advocate and/or victim service provider. Victim characteristics are reported by age, gender, and income. 17 tables and appended survey questionnaire