SURVEY OF SERIOUS CRIME IN OREGON, PART 2 - USE OF CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES

• NCJ Number: 62099
• Author(s): M HAYDEN; P E GERVAIS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 41 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Mid-Williamette Valley Manpower Consortium
• Corporate Author: Oregon Law Enforcement Council
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Oregon Law Enforcement Council
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A REPRESENTATIVE SURVEY OF OREGON RESIDENTS REGARDING THEIR USE OF CRIME PREVENTION OR SECURITY MEASURES.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH THE SURVEY SUGGESTS THAT MOST PEOPLE USE BASIC PREVENTION TECHNIQUES, ALMOST ONE-THIRD SAID THEY DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK THEIR HOUSES WHEN LEAVING, AND 45 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO HAVE A GARAGE DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK IT. MORE THAN HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK THEIR CAR WHEN IT IS PARKED NEAR THEIR RESIDENCE. ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ENGRAVE THEIR PROPERTY WITH AN IDENTIFYING NUMBER OR DISPLAY ANTI-BURGLARY DECALS. OLDER, URBAN RESIDENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO USE CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES AND 15-29-YEAR-OLDS WERE LEAST LIKELY. THIS FINDING IS PARTICULARLY DISTURBING BECAUSE VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS, INCLUDING THE VICTIMIZATION PORTION OF THIS SURVEY, HAVE CONSISTENTLY FOUND THAT VICTIMIZATION RATES IN VIRTUALLY EVERY CRIME CATEGORY SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER FOR YOUTH. RESPONDENTS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES, LEAST EDUCATION, AND SMALLEST HOUSEHOLDS WERE MORE LIKELY TO LOCK THEIR CARS THAN OTHER GROUPS. THE EXPERIENCE OF VICTIMIZATION DOES NOT APPARENTLY RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THE USE OF CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES OR FIREARMS OWNERSHIP. OVER ONE-HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS HAVE A FIREARM IN THEIR HOME, WITH 70 PERCENT REPORTING ITS PURPOSE TO BE RECREATION OR A HOBBY. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE THE METHOD AND TABLE OF AGE-SEX WEIGHT FACTORS, THE STATEWIDE TOTALS FOR EACH CATEGORY OF RESPONDENT, AND DATA IN SUPPORT OF TRENDS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED---RCB)