NCJ Number
160548
Date Published
1993
Length
50 pages
Annotation
In July 1992, a survey was administered by the South Dakota Attorney General's Office to assess public opinions on and perceptions of drugs and crime in the State.
Abstract
To obtain a representative sample from which inferences about the entire population could be generated, 2,500 names were randomly selected from the State's drivers license file. A mail survey was chosen over other possible survey techniques to encourage a larger response. Of the initial 2,500 surveys mailed, 393 respondents could not be reached, leaving an effective sample size of 2,107 persons; 1,418 responses were received from the 2,107 persons, for a response rate of 67.3 percent. Survey participants were questioned about general perceptions of crime, juvenile crime, crime prevention, abuse, drugs, and victimization, and survey findings are detailed according to these categories. Demographic characteristics of respondents are described. 14 references, 10 tables, and 19 figures