NCJ Number
16212
Date Published
1972
Length
153 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS WITH CRIME VICTIMS IN PORTLAND AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO EVALUATE THAT CITY'S HIGH IMPACT PROGRAM WHICH IS AIMED AT THE REDUCTION OF STRANGER-TOSTRANGER STREET CRIMES.
Abstract
THE AUTHORS HAVE CONCENTRATED SPECIFICALLY ON ROBBERIES AND BURGLARIES SINCE THESE CRIMES CONSTITUTE BY FAR THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF STRANGER-TO-STRANGER CRIMES IN PORTLAND. THE HYPOTHESIS OF THIS STUDY IS THAT THE VICTIM OF THESE TYPES OF CRIMES IS NOT PASSIVE, BUT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT A PERSON (OR DWELLING OR BUSINESS) THAT GOVERNS HIS BECOMING A VICTIM RATHER THAN SOMEONE ELSE. IT MAY BE A PERSON'S AGE, HABITS, LIVING SITUATION, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, THE APPEARANCE OF A DWELLING, ITS LOCATION IN RELATION TO ITS SURROUNDINGS, CONDITION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TRAFFIC PATTERNS, SECURITY MEASURES OF A BUSINESS, WORKING HOURS, AND AMOUNT OF CASH CARRIED AT ANY ONE TIME. THE PROJECT CONSISTED OF THREE DISTINCT PARTS. THE FIRST PART WAS AN ANALYSIS OF PREVIOUS VICTIM STUDIES CONDUCTED NATIONWIDE TO GUIDE US IN THE DETERMINATION OF WHAT INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE AND WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE COLLECTED DURING THE PROJECT. THE SECOND PART IS THE ANALYSIS OF EXISTING INFORMATION ON THE VICTIMS. THE LAST SEGMENT WAS A SURVEY OF THE VICTIMS OF CRIMES THAT HAD BEEN CLEARED AND A SURVEY OF THE VICTIMS OF UNCLEARED CRIMES. OF ALL THE REPORTED BURGLARIES AND ROBBERIES THAT WERE REPORTED IN 1971, THE PORTLAND POLICE REPORT THAT ONLY 16 PERCENT AND 23 PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF THESE CRIMES WERE CLEARED. IN THIS SURVEY, THE AUTHORS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VICTIMS OF CLEARED AND UNCLEARED CRIMES. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF LEAA'S HIGH IMPACT CRIME PROGRAM AND THE VICTIM SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)