NCJ Number
117589
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1989) Pages: 239-258
Date Published
1989
Length
20 pages
Annotation
National Crime Survey (NCS) data for a sample of 44,593 personal contact criminal incidents gathered over ten years was analysed to determine the relative importance of victim's age vis-a-vis sociodemographic, incident, and contextual variables in victim's resistance to and reporting of crime to police.
Abstract
Answers to questions in the NCS questionnaire on how victims responded during a criminal incident and their reactions after were used for this study. Data regarding how victims responded during a criminal incident were divided into three categories depending on whether there was a physically aggressive response, verbal or evasive action, or no reaction at all. Responses to the second question were grouped according to whether or not the victim contacted the police, or if a third party called the authorities after the incident. Analysis of the NCS data suggested that the elderly were not much different than younger age groups in responding to victimization. However, demographic variables such as race and gender had no bearing on the response either. The analysis revealed that the type of offense and the nature of the weapon used determined the response and the reporting of the incident to the police later. The study concluded that age may have a bearing on the long-term effects of criminal victimization and therefore must be further investigated. Tables, 6 notes and 32 references. (Publisher abstract modified)