NCJ Number
80642
Date Published
1981
Length
262 pages
Annotation
This work employs National Crime Survey (NCS) data from the last half of 1977 to study citizen reporting of crime to the police. Four separate analyses are presented.
Abstract
One analysis uses the sample-based weights and analyzes general patterns in citizen reporting. After controlling for offense seriousness, the analysis examines other offense characteristics, victim characteristics, and offender characteristics, using marginal percentages. In the second analysis, using unweighted data from some of these weighted analyses, parameter effects are estimated using log-linear modeling. Findings from these analyses show that reporting is positively related to the seriousness of the offense, that the relationship between age and reporting is curvilinear (with those in the middle group -- 25-49 years of age -- reporting most often), and that males and whites are slightly less likely to report than females and nonwhites. The variables with the strongest influences on reporting are offense seriouseness and age. The third analysis compares NCS information on the characteristics of offenders to arrestee data in the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) to see if the latter are proportionatly represented in the UCR, that UCR robbery arrestee statistics seem to reflect accurately the relative involvement of different races in robbery, and that those under age 21 are more likely to be arrested for rape, robbery and simple assault. The fourth analysis couples responses from the National Survey of Crime Severity with responses from the NCS to see if reporting of crimes related to preceived crime seriousness than reporters. Tables, graphs, and chapter notes are included. The NCS instrument, the National Survey of Crime Severity instrument, standard error tables, an index, and about 70 references are appended. (Author abstract modified)