International Crime Victims Survey Research Articles

Religijos-viktimizacijos modulio link tarptautinio jaunimo delinkvencijos ir viktimizacijos tyrimo (ISRD) kontekste: mokymasis iš praeities pavyzdžių

The concept of postsecular society highlights the increasing relevance of religion in social, cultural, and political affairs. Given this trend, criminology should pay increasing attention to how religion is linked to victimization and offending. Since the religion–crime studies have traditionally focused on offending, the research lacunae are biggest in the study of victimization. The inclusion of religion is particularly relevant in international surveys in religiously heterogeneous communities. In this article, we aim to develop a survey module suggestion for use in the context of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD). We first examine the current content of the ISRD-4 sweep. To locate lacunae in it, we move to review how international surveys have tackled the dimension of religion, including the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), the European Social Survey (ESS), the World Values Survey (WVS), and the International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS). Building on these state-of-the-art examples, we propose a new ISRD module (Appendix) for studying the religion–victimization link in international crime surveys with limited space. In conclusion, we argue that criminology would benefit from increasing attention to religion and other cultural variables alongside traditional socioeconomic, structural, and individual factors.

Prevalence of Violent Victimization and Associated Factors among Psychiatric Outpatients

Background: Victimizations, coupled with the existing political and socioeconomic instability in East Africa, poses unbearable burden on people with mental illness. Methods: Six hundred twenty nine psychiatric patients were interviewed by trained psychiatry clinicians consecutively to study prevalence, and associated factors of victimization by using interviewer administered standard international crime victim survey questions. Analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value =<0.05 were used to declare the statistical significance. Results: Lifetime and past year prevalence of victimization were 57.4% and 27.4% respectively. Majority of men were perpetrated by Strangers and acquaintances where as majority of women by near family members. In Binary Logistic Regression analysis: factors such as being female; history of psychiatric admission, suicidal attempt, previously cigarette smoking, khat chewing; criminal history and violent perpetration had significant association with victimization. Conclusion: The study identified high prevalence of victimization on people with mental illness which is potential for the formation of stress strain reaction as well as violation of legal rights of that population. Cooperation between law enforcers and mental health clinicians is needed.

International Differences in Crime Reporting: A Multilevel Exploration of Burglary Reporting in 35 Countries

Our knowledge about crime, and the ability to help victims, is only as good as the information that is shared with us. However, crime reporting is known to be variable, and much research has been done to look at factors that influence the decision to report. Few studies, though, have looked at whether, and how, the country context impacts a victim’s decision to report crime. Using data from the International Crime Victims Survey and available data on corruption, income inequality, development, and democracy, this article explores that relationship for burglary reporting in 35 different countries through multilevel models. The results confirm that there is significant variation among countries in terms of burglary reporting. In addition, models that take into account both micro- and macro-level predictors show that country-level crime prevalence, democracy, corruption, and income inequality significantly predict burglary reporting and provide support for using Freda Adler’s conception of “synnomie” and anomie as a theoretical framework for understanding the crime reporting decision internationally. Future research should continue to examine crime reporting decisions cross-nationally, as this research has shown the importance of sample composition and crime type on findings, and test the influence of macro-level factors, especially relating to “synnomie,” over time.

Societal gender inequality and the gender gap in safety perceptions: Comparative evidence from the International Crime Victims Survey

This study considers whether societal gender inequality moderates the relationship between gender and perceptions of personal safety. Pooled 1992–2005 rounds of the International Crime Victims Survey, comprising more than 285,000 respondents from 75 countries, are used to estimate multilevel models of safety perceptions, with a cross-level interaction specified between gender and gender inequality. We find that the gender gap in safety perceptions, although statistically significant in all countries, is largest in countries exhibiting high gender equality and smallest in countries with high gender inequality. This is explained entirely by variation in men’s safety perceptions; male respondents perceive themselves as safer in a milieu of gender equality, but less safe in a milieu of gender inequality. In contrast, the safety perceptions of female respondents are uncorrelated with societal gender inequality.

Reporting behavior of bicycle theft victims: a test of Black’s theory of law

Based on Black’s theory of law, scholars have examined crime-reporting behavior in many countries and regions. To extend the scope of the theory, this study uses data from the 1992 United Nations International Crime Victimization Survey in Beijing and applies Black’s theory of law to examine the behavior of crime reporting of bicycle theft victims. The results suggest that age is positively correlated with reporting behavior, and victimization occurring in a public setting is less likely to be reported. Other variables have no statistically significant impact on crime reporting. Moreover, the control variable (seriousness of the crime) is proportional to reporting behavior. Implications of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Creating crony capitalism: neoliberal globalization and the fueling of corruption

Abstract This article examines how neoliberal policies mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) impact on corruption in developing countries. Combining domestic political analysis with world systems and dependency theories, we hypothesize that these reforms concentrate losses on influential social groups such as businesses and civil servants, who then engage in corrupt practices to maintain their privileged positions. Using an original dataset of IMF policy reforms from 1980 to 2014, we find robust empirical support for our argument. Results of regression-based analysis demonstrate an effect of IMF policy reforms that hold across multiple samples and measure of corruption: 141 countries using a corruption control measure from the International Country Risk Guide; 70 countries on the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey; and 19 countries from the International Crime Victims Survey. Our findings elucidate the link between neoliberal globalization and political capitalism, while offering important policy lessons regarding the design of IMF policy reforms.

Regional, structural, and demographic predictors of violent victimization: A cross-national, multilevel analysis of 112 countries

Routine activities and lifestyles theories emphasize structural and demographic predictors that affect the opportunity to commit crime and the likelihood of being victimized. Past research tends to focus on either the individual- or country-level with few studies incorporating both. Additionally, past research primarily draws on the International Crime Victimization Survey, which results in small country samples that are biased toward developed nations. The current study uses data from a larger, more diverse sample that allow us to test whether findings from prior studies are generalizable. We are also able to theorize and test the effect of region on victimization. We find some differences between our findings and past research; we also identify that region is one of the strongest predictors of violent victimization.

Assessing the validity of police integrity scale in a comparative context

ABSTRACT The current study examines the validity of the police integrity measure created by Klockars et al. (1997, The measurement of police integrity. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice. pp. 65–70; 2006, The Measurement of Police Integrity. Research in Brief. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice: Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Available from: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/181465.pdf). Whereas this theoretical and methodological approach has been used by many scholars across the world, there are no systematic assessments of its validity. We primarily investigate the criterion validity by assessing whether the data on police integrity are appropriately correlated with other independent indicators of integrity. We rely on the descriptive statistics from many prior police integrity studies conducted over the last 20 years and on other nation/state level available sources of data (Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, the International Crime Victimization Survey, the World Value Survey, and the World Governance Indicators). We find relatively robust evidence of criterion validity of the measures, although the strength of this relationship varies across criteria. The theoretical, methodological, and policy implications are discussed.

Self-wise, Other-wise, Streetwise (SOS) training, an intervention to prevent victimization in dual-diagnosis patients: results from a randomized clinical trial.

Background and AimsPatients with co‐occurring substance use and other mental disorders are vulnerable to crime victimization, yet no evidence‐based preventive interventions exist. Our aim was to test the efficacy of a new intervention, Self‐wise, Other‐wise, Streetwise training (SOS training), to prevent victimization in these dual‐diagnosis patients as an add‐on to care as usual.DesignMulti‐site single‐blind parallel randomized controlled trial.SettingThree sites within one psychiatric service in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ParticipantsAdult in‐patients and out‐patients with dual diagnosis (n = 250), who were predominantly male (70.4%), aged on average 42.1 years, and diagnosed with 3.7 DSM‐IV disorders.Intervention and comparatorCare as usual, consisting of pharmacotherapy combined with individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy and/or supportive counselling (n = 125) was compared with care as usual plus SOS training: a 6‐week, 12‐session manualized group training focused on enhancing emotion regulation skills, conflict resolution skills and street skills (n = 125).MeasurementsVictimization was assessed with the Safety Monitor, the Dutch equivalent of the International Crime Victims Survey, in a face‐to‐face assessment. The primary outcome measure was treatment response (yes/no), with ‘yes’ defined as reporting at least a 50% reduction in the number of past‐year victimization incidents at the 14‐month follow‐up compared with baseline. Analyses were performed according to the intention‐to‐treat principle.FindingsThe proportion of participants achieving treatment response for total victimization was 54.0% in the control group and 67.6% in the experimental group, a significant difference [odds ratio (OR) = 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–3.11, P = 0.042]. Treatment response for violent victimization was achieved by 68.7% of the control group and 79.3% of the experimental group (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 0.91–3.34, P = 0.092). With a Bayes factor of 2.26, this result was inconclusive.ConclusionsAmong dual‐diagnosis patients, care as usual plus Self‐wise, Other‐wise, Streetwise training was more effective in preventing victimization than care as usual alone.

Measuring crime through victimization: Some methodological lessons from the ICVS

The objective of this study is to demonstrate that there are design errors in the International Crime Victims Survey (ICVS) that lead to biases in the estimates of victimization rates. This will be verified, firstly, by comparing the crime rate derived from the ICVS microdata with that based on the reference population and, secondly, examining the consequences of two ICVS methodological decisions: the use of individual weights and the re-weighting procedure in accordance with household size. These sample design failures, which generate distorted crime rankings, call for the need to make corrections both in the subsequent waves of the ICVS and in the final design of a future European survey.

Community Safety in a Rural Housing Area

Objective - This study investigates the nature of community safety in a rural housing area. The types of home safety control mechanisms were also investigated. Methodology/Technique - Face-to-face interviews were conducted on a randomly selected sample of 87 residents in a rural area located in the Northern region of Malaysia. Findings - Results show that the feeling of safety is quite high. Females are found to be more fearful than men. The study also found that more than half of the residents used special window/door grills for home safety control. As expected, the level of feeling very unsafe living at home alone after dark was double when their home was not protected by special windows or door grills. Novelty - The results of this study are important and provide the police with information on how they can get involved to help improve community safety. Future studies should investigate the type of crimes and experiences of crime victimization using the International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS). Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Community Safety; Fear of Crime; Feeling of Safety; Malaysia; Interview JEL Classification: H55, H83, O18.

Crime Control Measures, Individual Liberties, and Crime Rates

The balance between crime control methods and individual liberties is always problematic, creating tension, because in order to investigate crime, and adjudicate and punish offenders, it is necessary to make reasonable intrusions into the liberty of citizens. This study uses data from 40 countries to examine the crime control measures (police per capita and conviction rates) that reflect government investments in criminal justice apparatus to control crime and criminals, as well as the use of these crime control measures through government intervention in the lives of its citizens (formal citizen contacts with police, prosecution rate, and detention rate), to examine their impact on crime victimization rates (homicide rates and crimes included in the international crime victim survey). The purpose is to examine whether these government interventions have any impact on crime rates across countries, controlling other independent variables that might help to explain any observed relationships among these variables (such as measures of civil liberties, democracy, human development, available information and communications technologies, political rights, corruption perceptions, education, economic freedom, freedom of the press, and prosperity).

Beyond self-help

Many crime victims choose not to report their victimization to police or other formal authorities. However, understanding the nature of both reported and underreported crime is critical to proper allocation of criminal justice funding and resources. The present paper examines gun ownership as a potentially overlooked predictor of crime reporting, drawing on Black’s theory of self-help as social control. The present study tests whether the self-help orientation of gun owners is associated with a lower likelihood of reporting victimization to police. Data are drawn from the 2000 and 2004/5 waves of the International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS). Hierarchical linear models are used to assess both individual variation and cross-cultural variation. Findings show that gun owners who own their weapons for reasons other than protection are more likely to report their victimization than non-owners. However, gun owners are less likely than non-owners to report their victimization in highly developed nations. Explanations for these findings and avenues for future research are discussed.

Van Kesteren, John, Criminal Victimization at Individual and International Level: Results from the International Crime Victims Surveys

van Kesteren, John, Criminal Victimization at Individual and International Level: Results from the International Crime Victims Surveys

Residential burglary victimization

The current study employed the International Crime Victimization Survey for 142,665 subjects in 35 countries to compare residential burglary patterns across countries by their developmental levels. The mixed-level modeling shows that households in less developed countries were more likely to experience residential burglary than those in highly developed countries. In addition, married status and low income levels were positively, while living in a detached house was negatively, related to burglary victimization. These findings are consistent with routine activity theory.

Rural Crime in Developing Countries: Theoretical Framework, Empirical Findings, Research Needs

Anecdotal evidence and selected information from the International Crime Victims Survey suggest that crime is higher in developing countries than in developed countries and that there are regionally big differences. Explanations and solutions to the persistence and prevalence of rural crime in many developing countries are needed as rural crime undermines sustainable development to a large extent and may even affect social cohesiveness in rural communities. This discussion paper therefore calls for research which helps to shed light on this phenomenon in support of improved policies. For this, representative and good-quality data is needed. It is suggested to disentangle the complex research topic and allow for a more systematic approach by focusing on a certain type of crime. Research on most of these types is very selective and scarce. As mentioned, data is almost nonexistent and evidence on individual types is largely missing. The routine activity approach is suggested as a conceptual framework for further analysis. The paper concludes that research and policy design should focus on how to reduce opportunities to commit a crime in rural areas in developing countries in order to reduce environmental and social costs of crime, promote sustainable development and improve rural livelihoods of the often deprived and poor in rural areas in developing countries.

Understanding differences in crime reporting practices: a comparative approach

ABSTRACTDespite a large body of literature detailing crime reporting practices, scant research examines the correlates of the crime reporting decision in developing nations with newer democracies, newer economies, or developing economies. Using a sample of 23 nations from the 2000 International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS), this study tests the generalizability of correlates of robbery and assault reports to the police in a non-US sample to determine whether there are national differences in reporting practices. Based on this analysis emphasizing the developing world and countries in transition, an expanded model, integrating incident, demographic, police-related, and national variables, is developed that will enhance our understanding of differences in reporting practices in developing and developed nations. Results identified both similarities and differences in crime reporting practices between developed and developing nations. Although the findings reinforce the importance of incident and demographic characteristics on reporting crime to the police, they also suggest that national variables, reflecting economic and social context, should not be excluded from studies examining reporting practices.

Crime Rates in India

This study presents the trend analyses of police-recorded crime data in India. We demonstrate the long-term trends of serious violent and property crimes and examine whether the crime trend in India follows the global crime trend, especially the declining trend in the United States and West European countries. By examining the peaks, troughs, and turning points, this study examines the similarities and differences in long-term trends between different crime types. The data for our study are drawn from Crime in India, an annual publication by the National Crime Record Bureau of India. The results suggest that rates of murder, robbery, burglary, theft, and rioting follow declining trends, while rates of rape show an increasing trend between 1971 and 2011. The homicide trend is the only crime category following the global crime trend. While recognizing the universal and India-specific limitations of the police-recorded crime data, we want readers to consider the findings of the study with caution. We strongly recommend that India establish a national crime victimization survey and regularly participate in the International Crime Victimization Survey.

The case for survey-based comparative measures of crime

The author argues that statistics of police-recorded crimes have limited utility for cross-country analyses of crime, owing to varying legal definitions, reporting patterns and recording practices. In his view, stand-alone national victimization surveys, with their varying methodologies and questionnaires, cannot reliably be used for cross-national comparisons either. This is especially true for older versions of such surveys, modelled after the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) of the USA, which try to mimic their country’s official statistics of police-recorded crimes. Victimization surveys in the European tradition use less legalistic definitions of the public’s experiences of crime and are therefore more conducive to international standardization. When such surveys are standardized to cover the common ground of crime in multiple jurisdictions, as is the case in the International Crime Victims Survey, they can provide comparable data on the level and trends of crime of individual nations at relatively modest costs. In addition, such surveys can provide comparative data on crime reporting by victims, on satisfaction with responses from police and other agencies, as well as on public attitudes towards safety and criminal justice. In the discussion, the author argues for an expedient execution of the planned Safety Survey in the European Union and further work on the standardization of victimization surveys across the world by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Individual and Structural Opportunities

Opportunity theories are suited to cross-national research on victimization that incorporates a multilevel approach. Comparative research on non-lethal victimization often combines several types of violence into a single category of expressive crime. While expressive crimes do indeed share some characteristics, opportunities leading to specific types of victimization may vary. The current research uses the International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS) to examine two types of expressive victimization: sexual and physical assault. These data are limited to female victims, as sexual assault in the ICVS is assessed only for females. These data provide a rich source of comparative information on opportunities leading to victimization. Opportunities have been traditionally examined at the individual level through routine activities and lifestyles theories. Opportunity at the structural level of analysis is less commonly employed; however, routine activities theory offers a framework for measuring structural opportunity. The results indicate a multilevel approach of opportunities on victimization is appropriate. Differences in opportunity leading to sexual and physical assault are most evident in the opportunities provided by the development level of the country. The impact of country development on physical assault victimization is moderated by the involvement in leisure activities outside of the home.