NCJ Number
150312
Date Published
1994
Length
76 pages
Annotation
Two existing methods for measuring crime and victimization are the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS); the statewide victimization survey, however, is suggested as a better method for assessing violent crime victimization, and its use in North Carolina, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Tennessee is discussed.
Abstract
In North Carolina, the survey involved telephone interviews with 9,600 citizens, mailed questionnaires to 2,000 citizens, school questionnaires administered to 10,000 school-aged youth, and the collection of data on social and economic characteristics. Telephone interviews were used in the West Virginia survey; 1,201 valid responses were received from a total of 2,379 telephone calls. In Tennessee, a sample of 2,434 citizens aged 16 years and above was selected from a list of licensed drivers in the State, and 943 responded. The Louisiana survey included 1,241 telephone interviews. Surveys in all States focused on fear of crime, while violent crime victimization was surveyed only in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Survey data indicated that violent crime victimization rates per 100,000 population for 1991 varied as follows: 43.3 to 212.9 for robbery, 23 to 46.4 for rape, and 118.5 to 455.6 for aggravated assault. Tennessee had the highest violent crime victimization rates and West Virginia had the lowest. Costs associated with conducting the surveys are noted. Appendixes contain the survey forms and a list of contact persons for survey information. 10 references and 1 table