NCJ Number
63287
Date Published
1979
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER REPORTS ON THE RESULTS OF A CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEY IN BENTON COUNTY, IND., A PREDOMINANTLY AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. THE DISTRIBUTION OF CRIME BY TYPE IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
IN 1975, AT THE TIME OF THE STUDY, BENTON COUNTY HAD A POPULATION OF 10,828 PERSONS. MAJOR FOCI OF THE STUDY INCLUDE THE TYPE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR, THE TOTAL VOLUME OF CRIME, AND THE PROPORTION OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION IN THIS RURAL AREA WITH NATIONAL AVERAGES AND WITH THE RATES OF VARIOUS METROPOLITAN AREAS. A STRATIFIED PROPORTIONATE SAMPLE OF RESIDENTS IN THE COUNTY WAS OBTAINED USING AN AREA PROBABILITY SAMPLING TECHNIQUE. THE COUNTY WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE STRATA: TOWN, VILLAGE, AND OPEN COUNTRY. A TOTAL OF 181 SAMPLING BLOCKS OF 20 DWELLING UNITS WERE DRAWN UP, AND 481 RESPONDENTS FROM 222 HOUSEHOLDS WERE INTERVIEWED FOR THE HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL VICTIMIZATIONS SECTIONS OF THE STUDY. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT WAS DIVIDED INTO FIVE PARTS: HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION, PERSONAL INFORMATION, HOUSEHOLD SCREEN QUESTIONS, PERSONAL SCREEN QUESTIONS, AND CRIME INCIDENT REPORT. STUDY FINDINGS LEAD TO THESE CONCLUSIONS: (1) A GREATER PROPORTION OF CRIME EXPERIENCED BY RURAL RESIDENTS IS OF A LESS SERIOUS NATURE THAN OFFENSES EXPERIENCED BY RESIDENTS OF URBAN AREAS; (2) THE VOLUME OF CRIME OCCURRING WITHIN RURAL AREAS IS GENERALLY EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF NONMETROPOLITAN AREAS OF 50,000 OR LESS, BUT NOT AS HIGH AS THAT OF METROPOLITAN AREAS OF 50,000 OR MORE; (3) THE PROPORTION OF VICTIMIZATIONS EXPERIENCED BY RURAL RESIDENTS IN URBAN AREAS, OR OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, IS HIGHER THAN THE PROPORTION OF VICTIMIZATIONS EXPERIENCED BY URBAN RESIDENTS WHEN OUTSIDE THE URBAN AREA. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.