NCJ Number
56687
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE INDIRECT EFFECT OF CRIME ON THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS AND ON WORK PRODUCTIVITY IN SOCIETY IS DISCUSSED IN THIS ARTICLE FROM A CONFERENCE ON RESTITUTION AND VICTIMS OF CRIME.
Abstract
THE CONCEPT OF VICTIMS OF CRIME SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE FAMILIES OF PERSONS UNABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF CRIME-RELATED DISABILITIES. THE ANXIETIES AND CHANGES IN LIFE STYLE ATTRIBUTED TO FEAR OF CRIME ALSO CREATES CRIME VICTIMS. THE CONSEQUENCES OF VICTIMIZATION INCLUDE BOTH THE EXPENSE TO TAXPAYERS IN THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMES AND THE COST TO CONSUMERS IN COMPENSATION TO WORKERS INJURED BY VIOLENT CRIMES. THE NATIONAL CRIME PANEL VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS, SPONSORED BY LEAA, INDICATE THAT THE IMMEDIATE VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE TYPICALLY IN THE 18 TO 25 AGE BRACKET AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE MEMBERS OF MINORITY GROUPS. MALES ARE SLIGHTLY MORE LIKELY THAN FEMALES TO BE CRIME VICTIMS ACCORDING TO THE DATA REPORTED FOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WIS. CONSIDERABLE VARIATION IN THE VULNERABILITY TO CRIME WAS NOTED BETWEEN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CRIME. FOR EXAMPLE, MILWAUKEE'S BLACKS WERE 2.4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF A BURGLARY THAN WHITES AND 1.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF LARCENY. EVEN THOUGH THE ELDERLY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE CRIME VICTIMS, THEY ARE STILL VICTIMIZED BY THE FEAR OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; 95 PERCENT OF THE ELDERLY PERSONS SURVEYED FELT THAT CRIME WAS A PRIME CONCERN IN THEIR LIVES. VICTIMS ALSO LOST AN AVERAGE OF 2.1 WORKING DAYS BECAUSE OF TIME SPENT IN COURT AND INCURRED CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL EXPENSES RELATED TO THE CRIME AND THE COURT PROCEDURES. WORKER ABSENTEEISM CAUSED BY CRIME RESULTS IN LOSSES OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. DISCUSSION TRANSCRIPT IS PROVIDED. (TWK)