NCJ Number
31965
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
DESCRIBES THE HOUSEHOLD AND COMMERCIAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS CONDUCTED FOR L.E.A.A. BY THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS.
Abstract
THE NATIONAL SURVEY IS DESIGNED TO GENERATE ESTIMATES OF QUARTERLY AND YEARLY VICTIMIZATION RATES FOR INDIVIDUALS, HOUSEHOLDS, AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS. IN ADDITION, SPECIAL SURVEYS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN TWENTY-SIX COMMUNITIES, PRODUCING VICTIMIZATION RATES AND OTHER CRIME DATA FOR MANY OF THE NATION'S MAJOR CENTRAL CITIES. WHILE THE CITY SURVEYS ARE 'ONE SHOT' CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES OF THE EXPERIENCES OF THEIR CITIZENS DURING A PARTICULAR YEAR, THE NATIONAL PROGRAM IS ON-GOING; THE RESIDENTS OF 10,000 HOUSEHOLDS ARE INTERVIEWED EACH MONTH IN A ROTATING PANEL DESIGN, PRODUCING CONTINUOUS REPORTS OF THE CRIME EXPERIENCES OF ORDINARY CITIZENS. THE INDIVIDUAL AND HOUSEHOLD INTERVIEW SCHEDULES ARE DESIGNED TO ELICIT DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF SIX CATEGORIES OF OFFENSES: RAPE, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND AUTO THEFT. THE COMMERCIAL SURVEY INSTRUMENT FOCUSES UPON ONLY TWO CRIMES, BURGLARY AND ROBBERY. IN ADDITION TO THE PERSONAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VICTIMS OF THESE OFFENSES, THE DATA INCLUDE SELF-REPORTS OF THE VALUE OF STOLEN PROPERTY, THE EXTENT OF PERSONAL INJURIES, MEDICAL COSTS, INSURANCE CLAIMS AND COLLECTIONS, THE RESTITUTION OF LOST PROPERTY, THE ATTRIBUTES OF OFFENDERS, THE REPORTING OF INCIDENTS TO THE POLICE, AND SELF-DEFENSIVE MEASURES TAKEN BY VICTIMS. ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO ONE-HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS OVER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN THE CITY SURVEYS; THEY PROBE PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME, THE FEAR OF CRIME, AND THE EFFECT OF CRIME UPON PERSONAL MOBILITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)