NCJ Number
65070
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 129-134
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF AN AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL SURVEY REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CRIME VICTIMS ARE REPORTED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE CONSISTING OF 285 ITEMS WAS ADMINISTERED TO A SAMPLE OF 18,694 PERSONS THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA. TWO RESPONSES GAVE THE NUMBER OF VISITS TO PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER EXPERT PERSONS FOR NERVOUS OR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND A SELF-RATING OF NERVOUS OR MENTAL CONDITION AS GOOD, FAIR, OR POOR. VICTIMIZATION WAS REPORTED FOR THE FOLLOWING CRIMES: BREAKING AND ENTERING; MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT; ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE; THEFT; FRAUD, FORGERY, FALSE PRETENCES; RAPE, ATTEMPTED RAPE; NUISANCE CALLS; PEEPING TOM OFFENSES; INDECENT EXPOSURE; AND ASSAULT. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN RELATION TO CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATIONS SHOW THAT RATE OF VICTIMIZATION WAS TWICE AS HIGH OR GREATER AMONG THOSE WHO SAID THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS POOR. FURTHER, THE 7.5 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE WHO REPORTED A VISIT TO A PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER EXPERT PERSON DURING THE PREVIOUS MONTH OVER NERVOUS OR MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS HAD EXPERIENCED HIGHER CRIME VICTIMIZATION RATES. THE DATA DO NOT REVEAL WHETHER BEING A CRIME VICTIM PRECIPITATED THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM OR HAVING A PRIOR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION CONTRIBUTED TO THE VICTIMIZATION. EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES STIMULATED BY HIGHLY TRAUMATIC OFFENSES SUCH AS RAPE SEEMS LIKELY; HOWEVER, WITH LESS TRAUMATIC CRIMES, SUCH AS BREAKING AND ENTERING, THE STIMULATION OF MENTAL PROBLEMS BY THE OFFENSE SEEMS LESS PLAUSIBLE. IN SOME CASES, THE LETHARGY, APATHY, OR IRRESPONSIBLITY ASSOCIATED WITH EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS COULD INVITE THEFT OR FRAUD. FURTHER DATA IS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH THE VALIDITY OF THE FOREGOING THEORIES. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)