NCJ Number
81022
Date Published
1981
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This survey of a sample of residents of Canberra, Australia, examines victimization patterns and residents' views of the community physical factors that influence crime.
Abstract
In April 1980, the National Capital Development Commission conducted a 20 percent sample survey of standard houses in the 'inner' northern suburbs of Canberra, primarily as an aid to the planning of community facilities in these suburbs. This survey was also used to research crime in a planned environment. In addition to obtaining demographic data, the questionnaire asked residents about their view of the level of crime in their suburb, their reactions to and experiences of crime in the preceding 12 months, and their opinions on physical planning factors related to crime in their suburbs. Almost one-third of the 2,000 mailed questionnaires were returned. Canberra is a unique city in Australia because of the control of its comprehensive physical planning system by the National Capital Development Commission. Only 16 respondents believed their suburb has worse levels of crime and antisocial behavior than elsewhere in Canberra. The perceived incidence of vandalism was an important determinant of residents' perceptions of the crime level. Respondents ranked the physical planning factors according to their perceived relationship to crime: (1) type of people who live in the suburb, (2) type of people who visit the suburb, (3) shortage of community facilities, (4) design of suburb, (5) age of suburb, (6) location relative to civic center, (7) number and location of flats, (8) number and location of government houses, and (9) too many community facilities. Tabular data, four footnotes, and the questionnaire are provided.