NCJ Number
44439
Date Published
1977
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THE SECOND REPORT IN A STATISTICAL SERIES SAMPLING THE PUBLIC'S EXPERIENCE WITH CRIME ANALYZES CRIME VICTIM DATA GATHERED FROM A RANDOM SAMPLE OF 1,000 TEXAS DRIVERS AGE 16 AND OVER IN THE 1975-76 TEXAS CRIME TREND SURVEY.
Abstract
DATA WAS COLLECTED BY MAIL SURVEY, WITH MAIL AND TELEPHONE FOLLOWUPS, DURING JULY AND AUGUST OF 1976 AND COVER THE PRRIOD FROM JULY 1975 TO JUNE 1976. DURING THIS PERIOD THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF THE ADULT POPULATION WHO WERE VICTIMS OF CRIME. THE TEXAS CRIME VICTIM INDEX INCREASED ABOUT 1/6 IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1976 OVER THE 1975 LEVEL. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE ADULT POPULATION WHO WERE VICTIMS OF CRIME INCREASED FROM UNDER 18 PERCENT IN 1975 TO JUST OVER 20 PERCENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1976. IN THE PERIOD STUDIED, 1 IN 5 ADULT TEXANS WAS A VICTIM OF CRIME AND 1 IN 15 WAS A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE. BOTH VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIME INCREASED OVER THE PRECEDING YEAR. THE REPORTING OF CRIME TO POLICE INCREASED FOR THEFT AND BURGLARY BUT DECREASED FOR ASSAULTS. THE MOST COMMON REASON GIVEN FOR NOT REPORTING CRIME WAS THE VICTIM'S OPINION THAT THE CRIME WAS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH. THE PERCENTAGE OF VICTIMS EXPECTING TO BE VICTIMIZED IN THE NEXT YEAR INCREASED FROM 31 PERCENT IN 1975 TO 39 PERCENT IN 1976. THE PERCENTAGE OF NONVICTIMS EXPECTED TO BE VICTIMIZED ALSO INCREASED. THE VALUE OF PROPERTY LOST AS A RESULT OF VICTIMIZATION DECLINED FROM 1975 TO 1976. RISK OF CRIME VARIED BY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AGE, SEX, RACE, AND INCOME. GRAPHS AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED.