NCJ Number
177066
Date Published
1998
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the extent and relevance of repeat victimization in Australia, as well as the extent to which individuals and households that suffer from repeat victimization are similar to or different from single-incident victims; the geographical distribution of repeat victimization is also addressed.
Abstract
The main source of data on repeat victimization comes from the crime surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. National crime surveys were conducted in 1975, 1983, and 1993, with the next one to be conducted in 1998. Crime surveys have also been conducted in the States, mostly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It was not until 1994 that the Australian Bureau of Statistics made available confidential unit record data for the National Crime and Safety Survey conducted in April 1993. At the time of this report's writing, unit record data for the 1991 Queensland Crime Victims Survey were also made available. This report uses data from these two surveys. According to the 1993 survey, more than 28 percent of the households were repeat victims of property crime in the 12 months prior to the survey, and these households suffered more than 50 percent of all property crime victimizations. More than 41 percent of victims of personal crimes experienced such crimes more than once, and these accounted for about two-thirds of all violent crime victimizations. Some of the findings show that victimization patterns have short-term stability and that a small number of all the victims account for a large proportion of all victimization. Further, repeat victimization is more prevalent among specific groups in the general population, especially young males. Also, repeat victimization explains interjurisdictional differences in crime rates. Finally, the findings suggest that there may be a link between repeat victimization and fear of crime. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. 11 tables, 11 figures, and 54 references