NCJ Number
55886
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 98-113
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF THE VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS IN A BRITISH INDUSTRIAL CITY IS REPORTED.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS, MALES AND FEMALES AGED 11 TO 16, ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR VICTIMIZATION (THEFT AND ASSAULT) EXPERIENCES AND OWN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IN THE PAST YEAR. AS WAS THE CASE IN AN AMERICAN STUDY, THE SUBJECTS REPORTED A REMARKABLY HIGH RATE OF VICTIMIZATION, MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT REPORTED BY ADULTS IN THE SAME HOUSING PROJECTS. POLICE STATISTICS REVEALED THAT RELATIVELY FEW OF THE INCIDENTS HAD BEEN REPORTED. YOUTHS VICTIMIZED MOST OFTEN WERE THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE FILED AT LEAST ONE REPORT WITH THE POLICE. THE ADULT SURVEY FOUND THAT AREA OF RESIDENCE CORRELATED CLOSELY WITH VICTIMIZATION RATES. IN THE CASE OF JUVENILES, NEITHER AREA OF RESIDENCE NOR SOCIAL CLASS WAS RELATED TO VICTIMIZATION, ALTHOUGH TWO OTHER VARIABLES--SEX AND OFFENDER STATUS--WERE. MALES WERE MORE LIKELY THAN FEMALES TO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED, AND SUBJECTS WHO THEMSELVES HAD ENGAGED IN DELINQUENT ACTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED THAN WERE SUBJECTS WHO REPORTED NO DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. AN INTERPRETATION OF THE FINDINGS IN LIGHT OF INFERENCES ABOUT PROPENSITY TO BE VICTIMIZED DRAWN FROM ADULT SURVEY FINDINGS SUGGESTS POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS (HAVING TO DO WITH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF STATUS AND LOCATION VARIABLES) FOR THE DIFFERENT VICTIMIZATION PATTERNS OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN. THE REPORT CLOSES WITH AN EXPLORATORY DISCUSSION OF THE RELEVANCE OF JUVENILE VICTIMIZATION STUDIES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)