NCJ Number
42925
Date Published
1977
Length
183 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS OF A PUBLIC VICTIMIZATION AND OPINION SURVEY CONDUCTED IN A LARGE RURAL AREA IN ILLINOIS.
Abstract
THIS FIELD SURVEY WAS PART OF A LARGER STUDY DESIGNED TO COMPLETE A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS IN THE GREATER EGYPT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING REGION OF ILLINOIS. THIS REGION WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTED THE LARGEST EXCLUSIVELY NON-METROPOLITAN REGION IN THE STATE. THE VICTIMIZATION SURVEY WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A CRIME PROFILE AND A PUBLIC OPINION POLL OF THE GREATER EGYPT AREA. A TELEPHONE SURVEY USING A RANDOM DIGIT DIALING TECHNIQUE WAS USED TO CONTACT THE PUBLIC. CONTACTS WERE MADE WITH 10,679 HOUSEHOLDS. PERSONS WERE QUESTIONED ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THEIR CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION DURING THE SIX MONTH PERIOD PRIOR TO THE SURVEY. THEIR ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS ON CRIME, CRIMINALS, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND FEAR OF CRIME WERE ALSO NOTED. DATA FROM THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS FOR THE GREATER EGYPT AREA WERE ALSO GATHERED, AND WERE COMPARED TO DATA FROM THE VICTIMIZATION SURVEY. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, THE RESEARCHERS CONSTRUCTED AN ESTIMATED CRIME RATE AND A CRIME PROFILE FOR THE GREATER EGYPT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING REGION. THE SURVEY SHOWED, AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL OF UNREPORTED CRIME IN THIS REGION, THAT MOST PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND ARE NOT OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME, AND THAT ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX HOUSEHOLDS SURVEYED REPORTED A CRIME INCIDENT. THE RESEARCHERS RECOMMEND THAT ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP STUDIES SIMILAR TO THIS STUDY BE CONDUCTED IN THE FUTURE. BIBLIOGRAPHIES ON SURVEY METHODOLLOGY, ATTITUDINAL STUDIES, AND VICTIMIZATION STUDIES ARE INCLUDED....DMC