NCJ Number
72723
Date Published
1979
Length
25 pages
Annotation
A victim survey of Tokyo assesses victimization rates, population awareness of crime problems, importance citizens attach to crime problems, fear of crime, and attitudes toward police.
Abstract
Data derive from interviews in 1977 with a random sample of 949 Tokyo residents over 14 years old from 73 city districts; results from 69.7 percent of the original sample are analyzed. The survey instrument contains a built-in personality inventory. Findings indicate that 26.1 percent of the respondents (men and women equally) consider crime to be a major problem, but in general one that lags behind such concerns as inflation, raising children, and neighborhood relationships. Individuals with neurotic tendencies more frequently find crime to be a major problem than do persons without abnormal neuroses. More than 80 percent of the respondents, especially women, juveniles, unmarried men, and the elderly, express some fear of crime. A sense of belonging tends to reduce fear, while neuroses increase it. Feeling safe in their own neighborhoods were 34 percent of the respondents; 51.8 percent (compared to 88 percent in Stuttgart) know of neighborhoods where they would feel unsafe alone on the street at night. Average respondents believe that crime rates remain constant in their neighborhoods, are growing in Tokyo, and are increasing rapidly in Japan as a whole. In fact, the overall rates have remained constant for some time, suggesting that citizen attitudes are colored by sensational media reports. Assessment of dark figures shows that most offenses are about 10 times more frequent than police figures indicate. About 32 percent of offenses committed are reported (compared to 45 percent in Stuttgart, Switzerland, the US, and other countries), and the police do not record all reported offenses. Reasons given for failure to report crimes are small extent of damages, lack of faith in the police, and the inconvenience of reporting. Neurotic individuals are more frequently victims of physical injury than the general population. Police work is rated good by 23.1 percent of the respondents and average by 36.7 percent. Young men, low income groups, and neurotic individuals are less satisfied than the population as a whole with police work. The inhabitants of Tokyo express less trust in officers and a greater desire for just treatment than do the inhabitants of Stuttgart. As for attitudes toward penalties, 58.9 percent of respondents believe that stricter penalties would reduce crime (compared to 70.9 percent in Stuttgart), and 71.9 percent support the death penalty. A 45-item bibliography, tables, graphs, and notes are furnished.