NCJ Number
176688
Date Published
1998
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This is a report of findings from a victimization study conducted in Johannesburg.
Abstract
A crime victimization study was conducted in Johannesburg to determine the extent and nature of criminal activity and the profiles of victims and offenders. The study disclosed that: (1) serious property crimes were well reported, while only about half of violent interpersonal crimes ever came to the police's attention; (2) the vast majority of victims who did report crimes were not satisfied with the service provided; (3) the majority of crime victims did not make use of specialized victim support agencies and awareness of such services was poor; (4) all victims considered the suburbs the safest parts of Johannesburg; and (5) a significant proportion of victims had no household protection against crime. As a result of the survey, a city crime prevention strategy has prioritized the following for intervention: burglary, mugging, theft of motor vehicles, and violence against women. In addition, interventions are required in relation to four broader issues which include different crime types: targeting the real victims of crime, improving police service, confronting the fear of crime and targeting repeat victims. The report includes the United Nations Street Interview Survey on Safety used in the Johannesburg survey. Figures, notes