Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between UCR crime rates and a surveyed population’s anticipation of victimization within the next year. Separate surveys were conducted within the states of Tennessee and Texas. In both surveys, self-reported questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 2,000 individuals drawn from the population of persons holding valid driver’s licenses within that state. A comparison was made between six Part I (rape, robbery, assualt, burglary, theft, and vehicle theft) UCR crime rates of the two states and the expectation of imminent victimization, as shown by the statewide surveys. Several past studies have suggested that there is little relationship between the official incidence of crime and the perceived likelihood of victimization. However, this study presents evidence in support of a positive relationship between UCR crime rates and the anticipation of victimization. In addition, it was found that the greater the anticipation of victimization level the more likely the respondents were to utilize defensive security devices (target hardening).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Antilla, I. The criminological significance of unregistered criminality. Excerpta Criminologica, 1964, 4, 411–14.
Beatie, R.H. Problems of criminal statistics in the United States. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, 1955, 46, 181–85.
Beatie, R.H. Criminal statistics in the United States: 1960. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, 1960, 51, 49–65.
Biderman, A.D., Johnson, L.A., McIntyre, J. & Weir, A.W. Report on a pilot study in the District of Columbia on victimization and attitudes toward law enforcement: Field survey I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967.
Biderman, A.D. & Reiss, A.J. On exploring the dark figure of crime. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1967, 37, 1–15.
Block, M.K. & Long, G.L. Subjective probability of victimization and crime levels: an econometric approach. Criminology, 1973, 11, 87–93.
Chambliss, W.J. & Nagasawa, R.N. On the validity of official statistics. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 1969, 6, 71–77.
Cohen, A.K. Delinquency boys: the culture of the gang, Glencoe, Ill.: The Free Press, 1955.
Conklin, J.E. The impact of crime. New York, N.Y.: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1975.
Dull, R.T. & Pelfrey, W.V. Survey of crime and justice in Tennessee: 1982. Memphis, Tenn.: Department of Criminal Justice, Memphis State University, 1982.
Durkheim, E. De la division du travail social. Paris, France: F. Alcon, 1893.
Ennis, P.H. Criminal victimization in the United States: a. report of a national survey: field survey II, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1967.
Feldman, M.P. Criminal behavior: a psychological analysis. New York, N.Y.: John Wiley and Sons, 1977.
Friel, C.M. Course outline for class on informational systems. Huntsville, Tex.: Sam Houston State University, 1981.
Furstenberg, F.F. Fear of crime and its effects on citizen behavior. Paper presented at the Symposium on Studies of Public Experience, Knowledge and Opinion of Crime and Justice, Bureau of Social Science Research, Inc., Washington, D.C., 1972.
Glaser, D.K., Kenefick, D. & O’Leary, V. The violent offender. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1966.
Kercher, G.A. & Dull, R.T. Texas crime poll, 1981. Huntsville, Tex.: Sam Houston State University, 1981.
Lejins, P. Uniform crime reports. Michigan Law Review, 1966, 64, 1011–30.
Murphy, F.J., Shirley, M.M. & Witmer, H.L. The incidence of hidden delinquency. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1946, 16, 686–96.
Pittman, D.J. & Handy, W.F. Uniform crime reporting: suggested improvements, Sociology and Social Research, 1962, 46, 135–43.
Porterfield, A.L. Delinquency and its outcome in court and college. American Journal of Sociology, 1943, 49, 199–208.
Reiss, A.J. Studies in crime and law enfrocement in major metropolitan areas: field survey III, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Governemnt Printing Office, 1967.
Rosenthal, J. The cage of fear in cities beset by crime. Life Magazine, 1969, 67, 17.
Sellin, T. The uniform criminal statistics act. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, 1950, 40, 679–700.
Shulman, H.M. The measurement of crime in the United States. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, 1966, 57, 483–92.
Wallace, R. Crime in the United States: part I. Life Magazine, 1957, 43, 46–70.
Wallerstein, J.S. & Wyle, C.L. Our lawabiding lawbreakers. National Probation, 1947, 107–12.
Wolfgang, M.E. Uniform crime reports: a critical appraisal. University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1963, 3, 708–38.
Wilson, J.Q. Varieties of police behavior: the measurement of law and order in eight communities. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1968.
Winslow, R.W. Crime in a free society. Belmont, Calif.: Dickerson Publishing Company, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dull, R.T. A two southern state comparison of the relationship between UCR crime rates and the anticipation of victimization. AJCJ 8, 16–32 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373797
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03373797