National Crime Victimization Survey Redesign

This fact sheet summarizes the redesign program. The NCVS, which counts incidents both reported and not reported to the police, relies on victims' accounts to provide a detailed picture of crime incidents and trends. Data are collected throughout the year from a sample of about 50,000 households with more than 100,000 persons age 12 or over. The redesign includes new questions and improves the technology and survey methods used in the questionnaire. Survey changes substantially increase the number of rapes and aggravated and simple assaults reported to interviewers. For the first time, NCVS measures non-rape sexual assault and unwanted or coerced sexual contact involving a threat or attempt to harm.