NCJ Number
45379
Journal
JOURNAL OF COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNNEL Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 345-351
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
AN ADMINISTRATIVE TOOL IS PRESENTED FOR MEASURING THE AMOUNT AND NATURE OF CRIME ON CAMPUS ON A ROUTINE BASIS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE APPROPRIATE STAFF ASSIGNMENTS AND PLANNING FOR ORIENTATION PROGRAMS AND COUNSELING.
Abstract
THE STUDY CONDUCTED SOUGHT TO DETERMINE WHETHER A MAILED QUESTIONNAIRE WAS A VIABLE METHOD FOR SCREENING VICTIMS OF CRIME ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS, WHAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF CRIME ON THE CAMPUS WAS, AND HOW IT COMPARED WITH CRIME IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS TESTED ON STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA IN 1972-1973. FROM AN INITIAL SAMPLE OF 2,002 STUDENTS, 1,345 RESPONSES WERE USABLE. THERE WERE 437 (32 PERCENT) INCIDENTS OF VICTIMIZATION. RESPONDENTS WERE INTERVIEWED TO VERIFY THE RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE. VARIABLES CONSIDERED IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRELATION WITH VICTIMIZATION WERE SEX, AGE, RELIGION, CLASS STANDING, MARITAL STATUS, NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHARING A LIVING UNIT, AVERAGE WEEKLY SPENDING, VISIBLE WEALTH, AND SOCIAL COHESIVENESS. EACH OF THESE WAS FOUND TO BE CORRELATED WITH CRIME, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CRIME. A TABLE SUMMARIZES THE ANALYSIS OF VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS BY CRIME TYPE. RATES OF VICTIMIZATION IN 13 UNITED STATES CITIES WERE COMPARED WITH THOSE FOUND IN THE COLLEGE STUDY. THE RATES WERE SIMILAR, ALTHOUGH THE CAMPUS RATE OF VICTIMIZATION FOR RAPE WAS SOMEWHAT HIGHER. STATISTICS KEPT BY THE UNIVERSITY POLICE WERE FOUND TO BE INACCURATE; THIS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT MANY CRIMES MAY BE REPORTED TO CITY POLICE RATHER THAN CAMPUS AUTHORITIES. THE EXISTENCE OF A DUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM MAY INHIBIT ACCURATE ANALYSIS OF CRIME ON CAMPUS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR PERIODIC VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS ON CAMPUS IN ORDER TO PINPOINT TIME, PLACE, AND POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF MOST CRIMES, SO AS TO ALERT POTENTIAL VICTIMS AND INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. THIS STUDY FOUND THAT SUCH SURVEYS ARE FEASIBLE AND CAN PRODUCE VALUABLE DATA FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.