NCJ Number
122440
Date Published
1987
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This report on the 1985 Canadian Victimization Survey covers perceptions of crime, fear of crime, and experience of violence from the victim's perspective; the report also comments on the appropriate use of victimization data in the development of the criminal justice system and social policies toward violent victimization.
Abstract
Although 81 percent of respondents perceived that crime in their city was increasing, only one-third believed crime in their own neighborhoods had increased. The elderly were no more likely to perceive increasing crime in their city or neighborhoods than young persons, and females no more than males. This analysis of violent crime victimizations focused on sexual assault, robbery, and assault. There were 3.5 sexual assaults per thousand population, 10 robberies per thousand population, and 57 assaults. Weapons were used in approximately 35 percent of the violent crimes and guns in only about 5 percent. Only about one-third of the assaults, 38 percent of the sexual assaults, and 45 percent of the robberies were reported to the police. For both men and women, violent victimization rates were highest among those less than 25 years old. Sixty-eight percent of all female victims of sexual assault were under 25 years old. Violent victimization rates for elderly males were one-sixth the overall male rate; for elderly females over age 65, they were one-tenth the average rate. Young, unmarried persons who were students or looking for work had the highest victimization rates. The incidence of actual attack and physical injury was relatively high among female victims; they were more likely than men to be physically attacked and injured.