NCJ Number
216346
Journal
European Journal of Criminology Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 387-412
Date Published
October 2006
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This Swedish study examined whether increasing differences in living conditions were reflected in increasing inequality of victimization.
Abstract
Study findings show that exposure to violence and theft has followed different trends for groups characterized by high (rich) and low (poor) levels of resources, respectively. The proportion exposed first and foremost to threatening behavior and violence, but to some extent also to home-related theft offenses, was significantly greater among the poor than among the rich. In addition, the size of the difference involved increased. Where middle to high incomes have experienced stabilization in relation to exposure to violence and home-related thefts, levels of victimization have continued to increase among the poor. Over the past decade, society has witnessed an increasing divergence in the living standards of different social groups. The objective of this study was to analyze trends in exposure to violent and theft crime among the poorest and most wealthy segments of the population. The central question examined was whether increasing inequalities in income and living conditions were reflected in increasing inequality in the risks of victimization. The descriptions and analyses of victimization among different segments of the population were based on Statistics Sweden’s (SCB’s) surveys of Swedish living conditions. These are based on personal interviews with a representative sample of the population aged between 16 and 84 years. Approximately 6,000 individuals are interviewed annually with an approximate 20 percent level of non-response. Tables, appendix and references