NCJ Number
98314
Journal
Canadian Urban Victimization Survey Issue: 2 Dated: (1984) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1984
Length
13 pages
Annotation
To examine the gap between the incidence of crime known to police and that experienced by victims, telephone interviews were conducted in 1982 with a random sample of residents, 16 years or older, in 7 major urban areas of Canada.
Abstract
Sample sizes ranged from 6,910 to 9,563. Subjects were asked to report on those incidents which occurred during the preceding year. Statistical estimates were made for the general population on the basis of the interview data. The most striking finding was that 58 percent of the estimated incidents never came to police attention and police were on the scene in only 3 percent of the cases. Over four-fifths of reports to police came from victims or household members. The most common reasons cited for failure to report were that the victimizations were insufficiently serious or the victims believed the police would be unable to do anything. Additional reasons for nonreporting included fear of revenge, criminal justice system involvement, or the feeling that the incident was a personal matter. Motor vehicle theft was the most often reported nonviolent crime. Only about a third of vandalism incidents were reported, while 64 percent of breaking and entering offenses were reported. Violent crime against females and those occurring closer to home were more likely to be reported. The incidence of reporting increased with victim age. Violent crimes against single males and females were less likely to be reported and reporting rates increased with severity of injury. Estimated incidents and factors affecting reporting for robbery, assaults and sexual assaults are discussed. Implications for victim service programs are discussed.