NCJ Number
58137
Date Published
1978
Length
27 pages
Annotation
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS TO EVALUATE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED, AND ALTERNATIVES TO SUCH SURVEYS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE EVALUATION OF CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS IS MEASURING THE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF CRIME. CRIME RATES BASED ON THE FBI UNIFORM CRIME INDEX CAN BE MISLEADING WHEN USED AS A MEASURE OF SUCCESS IN EVALUATING CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE COMMON OUTCOMES OF CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS IS AN INCREASE IN THE RATE AT WHICH VICTIMIZATIONS ARE REPORTED TO THE POLICE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN, HOWEVER, THAT THE FACT THAT A VICTIM REPORTS A CRIME TO THE POLICE, DOES NOT ENSURE THAT THE VICTIMIZATION IS REPRESENTED IN OFFICIAL CRIME RATE DATA. OFFENSES CAN BE SHIFTED FROM ONE STATISTICAL CATEGORY TO ANOTHER, DOWNGRADED, OR IGNORED IN STATISTICS. THE EXTENT TO WHICH CITIZEN COMPLAINTS DO NOT BECOME OFFICIAL CRIME STATISTICS VARIES CONSIDERABLY ACROSS JURISDICTIONS. THUS, ADVANTAGES OF VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS TO EVALUATE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS INCLUDE CONTROL OVER CRIME REPORTING AND CONTROL OVER THE RECORDING OF REPORTED CRIME. DISADVANTAGES OF THESE SURVEYS INVOLVE METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND COST FACTORS. THE VALIDITY AND VALUE OF VICTIM REPORTS CAN FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON THAT VICTIM'S UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TRANSPIRED, KNOWLEDGE OF LEGAL DEFINITIONS, AND ABILITY TO RECALL EVENTS. FURTHERMORE, VICTIM SURVEYS REQUIRE LARGE NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL FOR PRE-, POST-, AND MAIN SURVEYS AND CAN COST UP TO $20,000 FOR A SAMPLE OF 200 VICTIMS. ALTERNATIVES TO VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS ARE OFFICIAL POLICE INCIDENT REPORTS FOR SELECTED CRIMES, BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION PROJECTS, AND PROCESS EVALUATION. FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION OF CRIME PROGRAMS ARE TABULATED. (DEP)