Victim characteristics
Victim characteristics Summary findings | BJS publications | Selected statistics | Related sites -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary findings Violent crime victims Age | Race | Ethnicity | Gender | Annual household income | Marital status Property crime victims (characteristics of head of household) Age | Race | Ethnicity | Annual household income Violent crime victims Violent crime includes murder, rape and sexual assault, robbery, and assault. Age Teens experience the highest rates of violent crime. Trends in violent victimization by age, 1973-2004 In 2004 -- Beginning with the 20-24 age category, the rate at which persons were victims declined significantly as the age category increased. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports show that in 2003, 91% of murder victims were age 18 or older. Of all murder victims, 46% were 20 to 34 years old. See also Homicide Trends in the United States and Data Online for characteristics of homicide victims by State and large locality. The elderly, persons age 65 or older, experienced less violence and fewer property crimes than younger persons between 1993-2002. Property crime, not violence, provided the highest percentage of crime against persons age 65 or older. About 1 in 5 of personal crimes against the elderly were thefts compared to about 1 in 33 for persons age 12-49. To the top Race Serious violent crime rates declined in recent years for both blacks and whites. Trends in violent victimization by race, 1973-2004 In 2004-- Per every 1,000 persons in that racial group, 26 blacks, 21 whites and 13 persons of other races sustained a violent crime. Black and white persons experienced similar rates of simple assault. Black, white, and other races experienced about the same rates of rape/sexual assault. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, in 2003 about 49% of murder victims were white, 49% were black, and 3% were Asians, Pacific Islander, and Native Americans. See also Homicide Trends in the United States and Data Online for characteristics of homicide victims by State and large locality. Blacks were more likely than whites to be victimized by a carjacking (6 versus 2 per 10,000 respectively) 1992-96. Between 1992-2001, American Indians experienced violence at rates more than twice that of blacks, 2 1/2 times that of whites, and 4 1/2 times that of Asian. To the top Ethnicity During 2004-- 563,250 Hispanic persons age 12 or older were victims of rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault. Violence against Hispanics age 12 or older most often took the form of simple assault (64%). Hispanic persons age 12 or older experienced 11% of all violent crime and made up 13% of the population. Hispanics were victims of overall violence at a rate higher than non-Hispanics. Hispanics were more likely to be victims of simple assault than non-Hispanics. Hispanics and non-Hispanics experienced similar rates of aggravated assault, robbery, and rape/sexual assault. Trends, 1993-2004 -- The rate of victimization against Hispanics fell 67% from 55 to 18 victimizations per 1,000. To the top Gender Violent crime rates declined for both males and females since 1994. Rates for males and females have been getting closer in recent years. Trends in violent victimization by gender, 1973-2004 Males experienced higher victimization rates than females for all types of violent crime except rape/sexual assault. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, most murder victims were male, 78% in 2003. See also Homicide Trends in the United States and Data Online for characteristics of homicide victims by State and large locality. Men were more likely than women to be the victim of a carjacking (2 men and 1 women per 10,000 persons). To the top Annual household income Some differences were found between household income levels as to whether persons were more or less vulnerable to violent crimes in 2004. In 2004-- Persons in households with an annual income under $7,500 were robbed at a significantly higher rate than persons in households earning more. Persons in households with an annual income of less than $7,500 have higher rates of assault than persons in households with higher income levels. To the top Marital status In 2004 persons who had never married and those who were divorced or separated were victimized at similar rates for rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Never married persons were victimized at higher rates than married, widowed, and divorced/separated persons for violent crime overall. Property crime victims Property crime includes burglary, motor vehicle theft and property theft. Age When compared with other age groups, persons age 65 or older were disproportionately affected by property crimes. Between 1993 and 2002-- More than nine in ten crimes against the elderly and about four in ten crimes against persons age 12 to 24 were property crimes. To the top Race In 2004-- Black households experienced higher levels of property crime than white households; property crimes were experienced by 191 of 1,000 black households and 157 of 1,000 white households. Burglaries were experienced by 44 of 1,000 black households and 28 of 1,000 white households. For motor vehicle theft, the rates were 16 per 1,000 black households and 8 per 1,000 white households. The theft rate was 131 per 1,000 black households and 122 per 1,000 white households. To the top Ethnicity In 2004 -- Property crime rates for Hispanics were 204 per 1,000 households, and non-Hispanics were 156 per 1,000 households. Hispanic households had motor vehicle theft rates at 19 per 1,000 compared to 7 per 1,000 for non-Hispanics. To the top Annual household income During 2004-- Households with an annual income below $7,500 were burglarized at rates higher than those of households with larger incomes. Households earning below $7,500 and above $75,000 experience motor vehicle theft at similar rates. To the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BJS publications This list is in order of the most recent publication first. Additional titles are listed on other topical pages and a comprehensive list is contained on the BJS publications page. To see a full abstract of a publication with links to electronic versions of the publication, click on the title below. Criminal Victimization 2004, 9/05. Presents estimates of national levels and rates of personal and property victimization for the year 2004. NCJ 210674 Criminal Victimization 2003, 9/04. 205455 Criminal Victimization 2002, 8/03. NCJ 199994 Criminal Victimization 2001: Changes 2000-2001 with Trends 1993-2001, 9/02. NCJ 194610 Criminal Victimization 2000: Changes 1999-2000 with Trends 1993-2000, 6/01. NCJ 187007 Criminal Victimization 1999: Changes 1998-99 with Trends 1993-99, 8/00. NCJ 182734 Criminal Victimization 1998: Changes 1997-98 with Trends 1993-98, 7/99. NCJ 176353 Criminal Victimization 1997: Changes 1996-97 with Trends 1993-97, 12/98. NCJ 173385 Criminal Victimization 1996: Changes 1995-96 with Trends 1993-96, 11/97. NCJ 165812 Previous editions (non-electronic) Juvenile Victimization and Offending, 1993-2003 8/05. Presents findings about violent crime committed against or by juveniles from 1993 to 2003. NCJ 164265 Violence by Gang Members, 1993-2003 06/05. Provides estimates of the number and rate of violent crimes committed by offenders that victims perceived to be members of gangs based on National Crime Victimization Survey data. NCJ 208875 Family Violence Statistics: Including Statistics on Strangers and Acquaintances, 6/05. Compares family and nonfamily violence statistics from victimization through the different stages of the justice system. NCJ 207846 Violent Victimization of College Students, 1995-2002, 1/05. Examines the incidence of college student victimization and compares the findings to persons of similar ages in the general population. NCJ 206836 Violent Victimization of College Students, 12/03. NCJ 196143 Crimes against Persons Age 65 or Older, 1993-2002, 1/05. Presents data from the National Crime Victimization Survey and the Uniform Crime Reports comparing crimes against persons age 65 or older with those in younger age groups. NCJ 206154 Crimes against Persons Age 65 or Older, 1992-97, 1/00. NCJ 176352 American Indians and Crime: A BJS Statistical Profile, 1992-2002, 12/04. Reports the rates and characteristics of violent crimes experienced by American Indians and summarizes data on American Indians in the criminal justice system. NCJ 203097 American Indians and Crime, 2/99. NCJ 173386 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2004, 11/04. Examines crime occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. A collaborative report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, it presents data on crime at school from the perspectives of students, teachers, principals, and the general population, using a comprehensive array of sources. NCJ 205290 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2003, 10/03. NCJ 201257 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2002, 11/02. NCJ 196753 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2001, 10/01. NCJ 190075 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2000, 10/00. NCJ 184176 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 1999, 9/99. NCJ 178906 Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 1998, 10/98. NCJ 172215 Homicide Trends in the United States: 2002 Update, 11/04. Outlines the primary findings from the section of the BJS website about homicide patterns and trends since 1976 (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/homtrnd.htm). NCJ 204885 In print and electronic formats: Homicide Trends in the United States: 2000 Update, 1/03 . NCJ 197471 Homicide Trends in the United States: 1998 Update, 3/00. NCJ 179767 Homicide Trends in the United States, 1/99. NCJ 173956 Crime and the Nation's Households, 2003, 10/04. Presents national prevalence estimates for the percentage of households with one or more persons who were victimized by crime as measured by the National Crime Victimization Survey. NCJ 206348 Crime and the Nation's Households, 2002, 2/04. NCJ 201797 Crime and the Nation's Households, 2000 with Trends 1994-2000, 09/02. NCJ 194107 Crime and the Nation's Households, 1992, 9/93 . NCJ 143288 Criminal Victimization in the United States, Presents 110 tables with detailed data on major variables measured by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). In electronic only formats: Criminal Victimization in the United States - Statistical tables, 2003, 7/05. NCJ 207811 2002, 12/03. NCJ 200561 2001, 1/03. NCJ 197064 2000, 8/02. NCJ 188290 1999, 1/01. NCJ 184938 1998, 5/00. NCJ 181585 1997, 9/00. NCJ 174446 1996, 9/00. NCJ 174445 See the Table index to find the right table in the electronic only collection. In printed and electronic formats: Criminal Victimization in the United States 1995, 5/00. NCJ 171129 Criminal Victimization in the United States 1994, 5/97. NCJ 162126 Criminal Victimization in the United States 1993, 5/96. NCJ 151657 Criminal Victimization in the United States 1992, 5/95. NCJ 145125 Previous editions (non-electronic) Weapon Use and Violent Crime, 1993-2001, 9/03. Discusses the nature and prevalence of violent crime by armed offenders, and the consequences to the victims, age 12 or older, from 1993 through 2001. NCJ 194820 Reporting Crime to the Police, 03/03. Presents National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data from 1992 to 2000 on non-lethal crimes against persons age 12 or older that were reported to police. NCJ 195710 Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, 2/03. Reports on trends in intimate partner violence of persons age 12 or older in the United States using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports. This Crime Data Brief updates some of the data in Intimate Partner Violence, a more detailed report on this subject published in 2000. NCJ 197838 Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical Attention, 1992-2000, 8/02. Presents information on the consequences of rape and sexual assault for female victims. The study provides the percentages of completed rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault of females that were reported to the police in 1992-2000. NCJ 194530 Hispanic Victims of Violent Crime, 1993-2000/Víctimas Hispanas de Crímenes Violentos, 1993-2000, 04/02. Examines violent crimes committed against Hispanic victims including rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault. Crime victimizations of Hispanics are compared with those of four non-Hispanic groups: whites, blacks, American Indians, and Asians. NCJ 191208 Age Patterns of Violent Victimization, 1976-2000, 02/02. Examines data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports on trends in violent crime by age in the United States. NCJ 190104 Violence in the Workplace, 1993-99, 12/01. Presents data for 1993 through 1999 from the National Crime Victimization Survey estimating the extent of workplace crime in the United States. NCJ 190076 Other publications on this topic: Workplace Violence, 1992-96, 7/98. NCJ 168634 Violence and Theft in the Workplace, 7/94. NCJ 148199 Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim, 10/01. Provides estimates of violence by intimates (current or former spouses, girlfriends, and boyfriends) with an emphasis on the victim's age using the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 1993-99. NCJ 187635 Hate Crimes Reported in NIBRS, 1997-99, 9/01. Utilizes data from the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting Program (NIBRS) to describe hate crimes reported to law enforcement in NIBRS-participating jurisdictions, between 1997 and 1999. NCJ 186765 Injuries from Violent Crime, 1992-98, 6/01. Presents data from the redesigned National Crime Victimization Survey, examining injuries as a result of violent victimizations. NCJ 168633 Policing and Homicide, 1976-98: Justifiable Homicide of Felons by Police and Murder of Police by Felons, 03/01. Presents annual trends from 1976 to 1998 in two types of homicide: justifiable homicides of felons by police, and murders of police officers by felons. NCJ 180987 Violent Victimization and Race, 1993-98, 3/01. Presents incidence estimates and per capita rates of violent victimization of whites, blacks, American Indians and Asians in 1998, and includes victimization trends, 1993-98. NCJ 176354 Sexual Victimization of College Women, 1/01. A joint report from BJS and the National Institute of Justice which explores the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at colleges throughout the nation. NCJ 182369 Firearm Injury and Death from Crime, 1993-97 10/00 Reports on the incidence of fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries that result from crime. Most of the data presented are from the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vital Statistics and the Firearms Injury Surveillance Study which collects data on injuries treated in hospital emergency departments. NCJ 182993 Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement: Victim, Incident, and Offender Characteristics 7/00. Presents findings from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) regarding sexual assault, especially of young children. NCJ 182990 Intimate Partner Violence, 5/00. Provides information on fatal and nonfatal violence by intimates (current or former spouses, girlfriends, or boyfriends) from 1993 through 1998. NCJ 178247 Criminal Victimization and Perceptions of Community Safety in 12 Cities, 1998, 6/99. Presents survey data from 12 cities regarding criminal victimization and residents' attitudes toward their neighborhood, their city, and the local policing services. NCJ 173940 Students' Report of School Crime: 1989 and 1995, 4/98. Compares findings from the 1989 and 1995 School Crime Supplements to the BJS National Crime Victimization Survey, discussing student reports of victimization, drug availability, street gang presence, and gun presence at school. NCJ 169607 Violence by Intimates, 3/98. Reports findings about violence between people who have an intimate relationship -- spouses, exspouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, and former boyfriends and girlfriends from statistical data maintained by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. NCJ 167237 Trends in Juvenile Violence and the 1997 Update, 11/97 This report and its update were produced under a Bureau of Justice Statistics grant to Dr. James A. Fox, School of Criminal Justice Northeastern University. the original report is based on Dr. Fox's briefing of the Attorney General in 1995 and discusses demographic trends and their impact on crime. It concludes that the growth in juvenile population in the next decade will cause a dramatic increase in the level of juvenile violence. NCJ 170379 and 170377 Sex Differences in Violent Victimization, 1994 , 9/97. Contains detailed information about specific violent crime types and contextual characteristics of violence against both women and men and their relationship to those who victimize them. NCJ 164508 Age Patterns of Victims of Serious Violent Crime, 9/97. Presents data from the redesigned NCVS that examines violent crime across the general population, ages 12 or older. NCJ 162031 Female Victims of Violent Crime, 12/96. Summarizes data collected from the National Crime Victimization Survey and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports on the number of violent incidents involving female victims. NCJ 162602 Child Victimizers: Violent Offenders and Their Victims 3/96. This study presents findings on violence against children from two sources: a nationally representative sample of State prison inmates serving time for violent crimes against children in 1991 and law enforcement records of nearly 37,000 child murder victims between 1976 and 1994. Executive Summary: NCJ 158625 Full report: NCJ 153258 Violence Against Women: Estimates from the Redesigned National Crime Victimization Survey, 8/16/95. The first release of the 1992-93 estimates of violence against women after an extended effort to improve the victimization survey's ability to measure violence against women. NCJ 154348 Murder in Families, 7/94. This BJS Special Report is a survey of murder cases disposed in 1988 in the courts of large urban counties. NCJ 143498 Child Rape Victims, 1992, 6/94. Provides information on the ages of female rape victims in the 15 States that compile such detailed data. NCJ 147001 Elderly Crime Victims, 3/94. Summarizes levels and rates of violent and nonviolent crimes against persons 65 or older using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey. NCJ 147186 To the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Selected statistics Criminal Victimization in the United States - Statistical tables in spreadsheet and portable document format files. Subjects include: Demography of victims Victims and offenders Geography The crime event Victims and the criminal justice system Series victimization 1996-2003 data are currently available, 6/05 To find tables using keywords, see the Table index. See Data Online for State and local data on crime trends and homicide trends and victim characteristics To the top -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related sites From BJS For domestic violence, see Characteristics of crime Other relevant sites Juvenile Victims of Property Crimes, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention FBI's Uniform Crime Reports Office for Victims of Crime Violence Against Women Office "Changing America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being by Race and Hispanic Origin", a Council of Economic Advisors chartbook from the Government Printing Office Childstats.gov, the website of the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics Agingstats.gov, the website of the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics To access clickable links go to link