VICTIMS OF PERSONAL CRIME - AN EMPIRICAL FOUNDATION FOR A THEORY OF PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION

• NCJ Number: 47665
• Author(s): M J HINDELANG; M R GOTTFREDSON; J GAROFALO
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 349 pages
• Corporate Author: Ballinger Publishing Co
• Sale Source: Ballinger Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

BASED ON EXTENSIVE VICTIMIZATION SURVEY DATA, A THEORETICAL MODEL FOR EXPLAINING DIFFERENTIAL RISKS OF PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION WAS DEVELOPED.

Abstract

THE WORK DRAWS PRIMARILY UPON DATA FROM VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS DURING 1972 IN EIGHT MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES. ITS CENTRAL PURPOSE IS THE ANALYSIS OF SURVEY RESULTS FROM SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN EMPIRICAL FOUNDATION FOR A THEORY OF PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION APPLICABLE TO RAPE, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, AND LARCENY FROM THE PERSON. AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER BRIEFLY REVIEWS THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS AND RATES OF VICTIMIZATION. THE STRATEGY FOR ANALYSIS IS THEN OUTLINED; IT SUGGESTS THAT AN ANALYSIS USING LEGAL CATEGORIES SUCH AS RAPE, ROBBERY, AND LARCENY IS LESS INFORMATIVE THAN ONE WHICH FOCUSES ON TYPES OF PERSONAL HARM, REGARDLESS OF LEGAL CATEGORIES. THIS APPROACH IS THEN USED TO EXPLORE IN DETAIL BODILY INJURY TO VICTIMS IN PERSONAL CRIMES. THE ROLE OF WEAPONS, THE VICTIM-OFFENDER RELATIONSHIP, AND THE USE OF SELF-PROTECTIVE MEASURES BY THE VICTIM ARE ANALYZED IN RELATION TO AN INJURIOUS OUTCOME. FINANCIAL LOSS IS THEN EXAMINED USING A SIMILAR METHOD. IN ANOTHER SECTION, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH RISKS OF VICTIMIZATION, IN PARTICULAR WITH MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATION. VARIOUS HYPOTHESES ABOUT 'VICTIMIZATION PRONENESS' ARE TESTED AND EVALUATED. PERCEPTIONS OF THE CRIME PROBLEM AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND TO VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCES ARE ALSO EXPLORED. THE FINAL PART OF THE BOOK PRESENTS A THEORETICAL MODEL OF PERSONAL VICTIMIZATION, EXPLAINED AS A FUNCTION OF PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT, AND NOTES FOLLOW EACH CHAPTER. APPENDIXES CONTAIN SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRES OF THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS' NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY AND A DESCRIPTION OF CRIME SURVEY METHODS AND PROCEDURES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AUTHOR AND SUBJECT INDEXES ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)