Crime and Victimization

Overall criminal victimization estimates in 2002 are the lowest since 1973. U.S. residents experienced an estimated 23.0 million violent and property victimizations, down from 24.2 million in 2001 and down from 44 million in 1973. (Bureau of Justice Statistics. August 2003. Criminal Victimization, 2002. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

In 2002, there were an estimated 17.5 million property crimes to persons and their households including burglary, motor vehicle theft, and theft; an estimated 5.3 million violent crimes to people age 12 and over including rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault; and an estimated 155,000 personal thefts such as pocket picking and purse snatching. (Ibid.)

There were an estimated 247,730 rapes, attempted rapes and sexual assaults to people age 12 and older in 2002. (Ibid.)

In 2002, youths between the ages of 16 and 19 experienced the highest rate of overall violent victimization in the United States at a rate of 58.2 per 1000 persons. (Ibid.)

Youths between the ages of 16 and 19 were victims of rape and sexual assault at least slightly higher than other age groups, at a rate of 5.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons. Youths between the ages of 12 and 15 were victims at a rate of 2.1 per 1,000 persons, and young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 were victims at a rate of 2.9 per 1,000 persons. (Ibid.)

Blacks experienced more overall violence, rape/sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault in 2002 than whites orpersons of other races. (Ibid.)

Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics were more likely to be victims of aggravated assault in 2002, at a rate of 6.1 persons per 1,000 compared to 4.1 persons respectively. (Ibid.)

Forty-nine percent of the overall violent victimizations recorded by the National Crime Victimization Survey were reported to the police in 2002, and 40 percent of the property crimes were reported to the police. (Ibid.)

In 2002, 53.7 percent of rapes/sexual assaults were reported to the police; 71.2 percent of the robberies were reported; 56.6 percent of the aggravated assaults were reported, and 42.7 percent of the simple assaults were reported. (Ibid.)

Two-thirds of the violent crimes against women were committed by non-strangers; 56 percent of the violent crimes committed against men were committed by strangers. (Ibid.)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that there were 16,204 victims of homicide in 2002, reflecting a 1.0 percent increase over 2001. (Federal Bureau of Investigation. October 2003. Crime in the United States, 2002, Uniform Crime Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Report shows an increase of 4.7 percent in number of forcible rapes in 2002; a decrease of 1.6 percent in number of aggravated assaults and a 0.7 percent decrease in number of robberies. (Ibid.)