NCJ Number
161703
Date Published
1994
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This report profiles surveys used in North Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia as methods for measuring statewide victimization, including victimization through violent crimes.
Abstract
Currently, the two methods of measuring crime and victimization are the Uniform Crime Reporting program and the National Crime Victimization Survey. Although these methods provide a useful national view of victimization, their data do not provide States with insight into their idiosyncratic problems. One method of better measuring victimization is the statewide victimization survey. This method was used in several States during 1992 in preparation for the Southeastern Violent Crime Summit; the initiatives include several methodologies and approaches. The variety was sufficient to provide several models that can be considered by other States as they formulate better ways of measuring and identifying serious crimes. The States were interested in different issues. North Carolina included questions on the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, drugs, security measures, guns, causes of the violent crime problem, and reasons for not reporting crimes to police. West Virginia asked similar questions. The Tennessee survey asked about attitudes and opinions regarding capital punishment, punishment in general, the function of prisons, and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Louisiana asked several questions about drug abuse, drug abuse education, assets seizure, and the job done by the criminal justice system. Two of the most important questions asked in several surveys addressed whether respondents believed the violent-crime problem has increased, decreased, or stayed about the same, and respondents' opinion about the prevalence of violent crime in the future. Other information provided includes the costs and results of the surveys. Major tenets of questionnaire design and survey methodology are outlined, and a sample questionnaire is provided. 10-item bibliography