NCJ Number
59441
Date Published
1978
Length
69 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF CRIME VICTIMIZATION IN TUCSON, ARIZ., WAS CONDUCTED IN 1978 BY RESEARCHERS IN THE PIMA COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
Abstract
THE POPULATION WAS STRATIFIED AS TO TYPE OF RESIDENCE, AND A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE WAS DRAWN FROM THE 11 DISTRICTS COMPRISING THE TUCSON METROPOLITAN AREA. APPROXIMATELY 2 PERCENT OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AREA, OR 3,000 RESIDENCES, RECEIVED QUESTIONNAIRES, AND 2,102 RETURNS WERE PROCESSED FOR A RESPONSE RATE OF ABOUT 70 PERCENT. ALL BUT 2 OF THE 11 DISTRICTS WERE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED IN RETURNS. SURVEY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT A LARGE PORTION OF CRIMES COMMITTED WERE NOT REPORTED TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. THE TUCSON CRIME RATE, AS COMPUTED FROM SURVEY RESULTS, WAS 3.6 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE RATE LISTED BY THE FBI FOR THE METROPOLITAN AREA. PROPERTY CRIME WAS MORE FREQUENT THAN VIOLENT CRIME BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE THAN REPORTED BY THE THE FBI, AND THEFT WAS THE MOST COMMON CRIME, FOLLOWED BY BURGLARY. MOST VICTIMS OF PROPERTY CRIMES EXPERIENCED LOSSES OF OF $200 OR LESS. OFTEN, WERE UNREPORTED BECAUSE VICTIMS THOUGHT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE OR BECAUSE AN INCIDENT WAS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO REPORT IT TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. IN ADDITION, INTERPRETING CRIME AND ATTITUDE DATA WAS COMPLICATED BY THE RESPONDENTS' CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS ABOUT A PARTICULAR SUBJECT. SURVEY RESULTS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PUBLIC DID NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FEAR OF CRIME WAS EASIER TO ASSESS IN THAT THE PROBABILITY OF BECOMING A VICTIM WAS INVERSELY RELATED TO THE EXPRESSED FEAR LEVEL ASSOCIATED WITH A CRIME. QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE FUNDING OF JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION AND VICTIM-WITNESS SERVICES REQUIRE ADDITONAL STUDY. SUPPORTING TABLES AND FIGURES ARE INCLUDED, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN RESULTS OF THE VICTIMIZATION SURVEY PRETEST AND THE TUCSON AREA CRIME SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE. (DEP)