NCJ Number
251150
Date Published
December 2017
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This is the original summary of the statistical report on criminal victimizations in the United States in 2016, as recorded by the National Crime Victimization Survey. See Criminal Victimization, 2016: Revised (NCJ 252121) to review the updated release.
Abstract
In 2016, U.S. residents age 12 or older experienced 5.7 million violent victimizations (21.1 victimizations per 1,000 persons). Approximately 1.3 percent of the population experienced one or more violent victimizations. These crimes included rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault. There were an estimated 15.9 million property victimizations in 2016 (119.4 victimizations per 1,000 U.S. households). An estimated 8.8 percent of households experienced at least one property victimization. Forty-two percent of all violent victimizations committed in 2016 were reported to police; however, the percentage of victimization reported to police varied by type of crime and other characteristics. Violent victimizations of Hispanics were more likely to be reported to police (52 percent) than those committed against Blacks or Whites (40 percent each). Although twice as many violent victimizations were committed by strangers to the victims (2.2 million) than family members (1.1 million), there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of domestic violence (49 percent) and stranger violence (45 percent) reported to police. Overall, 1 in 10 victims received victim services after their victimization. Violent crime rates did not differ significantly by a victim's sex or among White, Black, or Hispanic victims, but they did differ by other demographic characteristics, with persons ages 12 to 34 having higher rates of violent victimization then persons ages 35 or older. Victimization rates also varied by income bracket (highest for persons in households earning less than $25,000 each year) and marital status (highest for persons separated). 1 figure