Psychological Impact of Crime: A Study of Randomly Surveyed Crime Victims, Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 107740
• Author(s): D G Kilpatrick; L J Veronen; B E Saunders; C L Best; A Amick-McMullan; J Paduhovich
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 45 pages
• Grant Number(s): 84-IJ-CX-0039
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Medical University of South Carolina
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study obtained information on the lifetime prevalence of major crime victimizations among a community-based sample of 391 adult women residing in Charleston County, S.C., as well as on the nature of such crimes and their long-term psychological impact.

Abstract

Subjects were interviewed about their victimizations, and standardized assessment instruments measured current and lifetime mental health problems as well as current psychological and social adjustment. Approximately 75 percent of the women were crime victims, with sexual assault (53 percent) and burglary (45 percent) victims being the most prevalent. Approximately 25 percent had been victims of completed rape, 9.7 percent of aggravated assault, and 5.6 percent of robbery. Only 28.5 percent of the crimes involved stranger offenders. Over half (58.6 percent) of all crimes were not reported to police. Reporting rates were lowest for sexual assault. The primary reason for nonreporting was belief that what happened was not a crime. Only 8.6 percent of all cases were adjudicated. Victimization greatly increased the risk of current psychological symptoms, social maladjustment, and mental health problems. Completed rape and childhood rape were the most likely to produce such effects. 30 references and 1 table. (Author abstract modified)