NCJ Number
133759
Date Published
1991
Length
35 pages
Annotation
In this examination of trends in nonaggravated assault in New South Wales (Australia) in recent years, the focus is on whether, and to what extent, the increase in recorded nonaggravated assault is attributable to factors other than an increase in the actual incidence of the offense.
Abstract
Information was collected from two random samples of incidents of nonaggravated assault reported to police. One sample was drawn from the whole of New South Wales and the other from the Central Police District. For the whole of the State, a random sample of 400 incidents was selected from police records for each of the years 1982, 1984-85, 1986-87, and 1988-89. For the Central Police District, a random sample of 100 incidents was selected for each of the same years. For each incident, information was coded from details recorded on police report forms completed for the incident. Study results suggest that much of the increase in recorded common assaults in New South Wales is attributable, on the one hand, to an increase in the willingness of citizens to report incidents of domestic violence and, on the other hand, to an increased willingness by police to record assaults upon themselves. This explanation is supported by the finding of a recent household crime survey in New South Wales which indicates that the number of victims of nonaggravated assault has either remained stable or decreased. 9 tables, 7 figures, 14 notes, and appended police coding forms