NCJ Number
31966
Date Published
1975
Length
23 pages
Annotation
USES L.E.A.A.'S NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY TO DESCRIBE THE VOLUME AND CHARACTER OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES, THE NATURE OF ITS VICTIMS, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF VICTIMIZATION.
Abstract
EXTRAPOLATIONS FROM THE 1973 NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY SUGGEST THAT THE VOLUME OF CRIME IN AMERICA WAS ABOUT THREE TIMES LARGER THAN RECORDED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS. THE TOTAL WAS VERY LARGE, EVEN THOUGH MANY INCIDENTS THE AUTHOR WOULD LABEL 'CRIMINAL' WERE NOT COVERED BY THE SURVEY. DETAILS DISCUSSED INCLUDED THE HIGHLY SKEWED INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ASSAULTIVE VIOLENCE. THE VICTIM SURVEYS REVEALED MANY MORE ASSAULTS THAN ENTER OFFICIAL RECORDS, AND A CONSIDERABLE PROPORTION AFFECTED THOSE UNDER TWENTY-FIVE. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY THAN INDIVIDUALS IN THE POLICE, THEREBY DISGUISING UNTOLD NUMBERS OF THE POLICE, THEREBY DISGUISING UNTOLD NUMBERS OF INCIDENTS. THE PROBABILITY OF VICTIMIZATION IS RELATED TO THE SOCIAL ROLES THAT PERSONS PLAY AND THE RANGE OF VICTIM BEHAVIORS THOSE ROLES DEMAND. CERTAIN ROLES FOR WOMEN LEAD THEM INTO CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO RAPE; COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS WITH LONE OPERATORS THAT ARE OPEN AT NIGHT ARE VULNERABLE TO ROBBERY. THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY CRIME ALSO REFLECTS THE SOCIAL ORDER. EVIDENCE ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF SERIOUS THEFT AND THE AMOUNTS LOST IN THOSE EPISODES SUGGESTS THAT TARGET SELECTION IS QUITE RATIONAL, AND THAT AS LONG AS THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN THE SOCIETY IS SKEWED, THE DISTRIBUTION OF ITS VICTIMS OF PROPERTY CRIMES WILL FOLLOW. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)