QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CANADIAN VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

• NCJ Number: 48714
• Journal: Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 239-251
• Author(s): W G DOERNER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Canadian Assoc for the Prevention of Crime
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE IMPACT OF VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS ON THE NUMBER OF KNOWN VIOLENT CRIMES, THE PROPORTION OF VIOLENT CRIMES REPORTED IN RELATION TO TOTAL CRIME, AND THE CLEARANCE RATE OF VIOLENT CRIME IS STUDIED.

Abstract

THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESES WERE TESTD IN THE EXPERIMENT: (1) THE KNOWN VIOLENT CRIME RATE WILL RISE IN PROVINCES WITH VICTIM COMPENSATION LEGISLATION SINCE POLICE NOTIFICATION OF THE CRIME IS REQUIRED FOR COMPENSATION; (2) THERE WILL BE A RELATIVE INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF REPORTED CRIMES WHICH ARE VIOLENT IN PROVINCES OPERATING VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS; AND (3) PROVINCES WITH VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS WILL HAVE A HIGHER CLEARANCE RATE FOR VIOLENT CRIME DUE TO VICTIM COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE. THE DESIGN OF THE EXPERIMENT SELECTED SAKATCHEWAN AND ONTARIO -- PROVINCES WHICH PASSED VICTIM COMPENSATION LAWS IN 1967 AND 1968 RESPECTIVELY -- AS THE EXPERIMENTAL UNITS AND THE PROVINCES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, NEWFOUNDLAND, AND QUEBEC -- WHICH PASSED VICTIM COMPENSATION LAWS IN 1972 -- AS THE CONTROL UNITS. THE DESIGN INVOLVED A LONGITUDINAL COMPARISON OF UNITS EXPERIENCING THE STIMULUS (VICTIM COMPENSATION LAW) WITH UNITS NOT EXPERIENCING THE STIMULUS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. DATA WERE TAKEN FROM THE ANNUAL CRIME REPORTS PUBLISHED BY THE DOMINION BUREAU OF STATISTICS CONCERNING THE VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORY (CAPITAL MURDER, NONCAPITAL MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER, RAPE, WOUNDING, ASSAULT, AND ROBBERY). AN EXAMINATION OF FACTORS RELEVANT TO THE INTERNAL VALIDITY OF THE STUDY RULED OUT MATURATION, TESTING, INSTRUMENTATION, AND MORALITY AS POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE OBSERVED CHANGES IN THE CRIME MEASURES. NONE OF THE HYPOTHESES WERE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THIS STUDY. VARIOUS REASONS AS TO WHY VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAMS DID NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE REPORTING OF VIOLENT CRIME AND ITS CLEARANCE RATE ARE SUGGESTED. GRAPHS ARE INCLUDED TO SHOW THE PLOTTING OF DATA AND FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)