Criminal Victimization: Lifetime Prevalence, Reporting to Police and Psychological Impact

• NCJ Number: 108281
• Author(s): C L Best, D G Kilpatrick, B E Saunders, L J Veronen, J M Von
• Date Published: January 1987
• Length: 11 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

A sample of 391 adult females were interviewed about lifetime criminal victimization experiences, crime reporting, and psychological impact.

Abstract

In total, 75 percent of the sample (n=295) had been victimized by crime, and 41.4 percent of all crimes were reported to the police. Reporting rates differed by crime type. Burglary had the highest reporting rate (82.4 percent), and sexual assault the lowest (7.1 percent). Of all crime victims, 27.8 percent subsequently developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Major implications are the following: prevalence rates are extremely high and reporting rates are low. The prevalence of PTSD indicates that crime has both an immediate and long-term psychological impact. Suggestions for improved victim services are discussed. (Author abstract)