National Crime Victimization Survey

• Survey results show that these property crimes are
more prevalent in large households with six or more
people than in households with fewer than six
people.

Figure 4.
Comparison of Crime: 2003 to 2005
(Rate per 1,000 people)

• As illustrated in Figure 3, renters had higher rates of
victimization in 2005 than homeowners for each of
the three major types of property crimes.

163.2 161.1
2003

154.0

2004

Figure 3.
23.3

22.4

22.1

(Rate per 1,000 households)

Renters

Personal crimes

135.7

Owners

• Analysis of NCVS data shows that, in some instances,
household income can be an important indicator of
the likelihood of being victimized by a particular type
of crime.

• This fact sheet contains only a few of the highlights
of the NCVS findings. The BJS publishes other
reports periodically to meet the needs of the many
interested people in law enforcement, government,
and the private sector who analyze the crime
problem and plan programs for combating it. By
participating in the NCVS, you are contributing to
the knowledge needed to plan effective programs
to combat crime.

Property crimes

Figure 6.

105.1

Reporting Crimes to the Police

38.6
25.3
6.1
Burglary

Other Publications

• In 2005, crimes that involved violence and purse
snatching/pocket picking occurred more frequently
among individuals who earned less than $7,500
annually. The income group with the lowest
victimization rate for these crime types was
households with an income of $75,000 or more
(see Figure 6).

2005

Property Crimes: 2005

Household Income

Theft

13.3

Motor vehicle
theft

Comparing Crime Data
• By comparing NCVS data over time, criminal
justice planners can determine whether or not there
are any meaningful changes in criminal victimization
patterns for certain types of crime.
• Between 2003 and 2005, the number of people
victimized by personal crimes dropped from 23.3
per 1,000 people aged 12 and older to 22.1 per
1,000 people. This represents a decrease of 1.2
victimizations per 1,000 people (see Figure 4).
• Property crimes also experienced a decrease in the
crime rate from 2003 to 2005. Property crimes went
from 163.2 victimizations per 1,000 households in
2003 to 154 victimizations per 1,000 households in
2005, a decrease of 9.2 victimizations per 1,000
households.

• The NCVS was intended to complement what is
known about crime from the FBI’s annual compilation
of information reported to police (Uniform Crime
Reports). The survey, which also counts incidents
not reported to the police, provides a detailed picture
of crime incidents, victims, and trends from the
victim’s perspective. The majority of crimes
measured by the NCVS in 2005 were not reported to
the police. About 57 percent of all crimes, 51
percent of violent crimes, 64 percent of purse
snatching/pocket picking, and 59 percent of property
crimes were not reported to the police (see Figure 5).

(Rate per 1,000 people)

$75,000 or more
$50,000–$74,999
$35,000–$49,999
$25,000–$34,999
$15,000–$24,999
$7,500–$14,999

Personal crimes
17.4

Reporting Crimes to the Police: 2005
(In percent)
Not reported

Not available

All crimes
41

57

1

All crimes, by type of crime
Violent

47

51

2

Purse snatching/
pocket picking

35

64

1

Property

40

59

2

Justice Statistics Clearinghouse/NCJRS
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

21.7
23.6
27.1
31.2

Useful Information

28.1

less than $7,500

40.9

A Word About Confidentiality . . .

Figure 5.

Reported

Total Personal Crimes of Violence and
Purse Snatching/Pocket Picking by
Annual Household Income: 2005

• The BJS publishes a wide variety of special reports
on topics such as Black and Hispanic victims, elderly
victims, robbery victims, rape, motor vehicle theft,
and so forth. You may obtain the most recent copies
of these and other reports from the NCVS data by
writing to BJS or visiting the BJS Web site at:

• We use the information you provide for statistical
purposes only. Anyone who might see your answers
has to take an oath and is subject to a fine and/or
imprisonment for improperly disclosing any
information you provide (U.S. Code, Title 13,
Sections 9 and 214).
• The charts and graphs shown in this fact sheet were
created from a compilation of data provided by
respondents like you and are examples of how the
data are used to provide information on many topics
related to crime and victimization. Your name and
address are NOT part of the statistical totals
released to the public.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
National Center for Victims of Crime
1-800-FYI-CALL
1-800-211-7996 (TTY)
Child Help USA National Child Abuse
Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD
Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration

• It is illegal for us to provide anyone, including other
government agencies, with information about you as
an individual.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Issued September 2006
NCVS-110 (09-06)

National Crime
Victimization Survey
Factsheet

What Is the National Crime
Victimization Survey?
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is a
nationwide survey based on a sample of approximately
42,000 households a year. The survey is designed to
obtain detailed information about people victimized by
certain types of crime, such as theft, burglary, motor
vehicle theft, robbery, assault, rape, and purse
snatching/pocket picking.

The NCVS . . .

• The U.S. Department Health and Human Services—
identifies occupations and workplaces at high-risk for
violence so that effective preventative measures are
developed.
• Educational institutions—many academics and
researchers use the NCVS data to prepare reports and
scholarly publications, which are used in a number of
academic disciplines, including sociology,
criminology, psychology, and political science.

Who conducts this survey?

• Reflects crimes that victims do not report to the
police, as well as those that they do report.

• The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the NCVS for the
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the U.S. Depart
ment of Justice.

• Is the only current source of detailed information on
the characteristics of both the victim and the crime
and gives a more complete picture of the extent and
nature of crime in the United States.

• The Census Bureau collects and processes the
information and aids the BJS in the analysis of the
data.

• Was redesigned in 1993 to improve the survey’s
ability to measure victimization, particularly certain
difficult-to-measure crimes, such as rape and sexual
assault.

Your participation is important.
• Participation in this survey is voluntary and there are
no penalties for refusing to answer any questions.
However, whether you were victimized or not, your
cooperation is extremely important to help ensure
the completeness and reliability of the survey results.
Your answers not only represent your household but
also approximately 2,750 other similar households.

Uses of the NCVS data.
• The NCVS provides information used by law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies to improve
their effectiveness and planning.
• The U.S. Department of Education—measures the
prevalence and nature of student victimizations at
school.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development—measures crime in public housing.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture—measures how
crime affects farmers.

• The BJS is responsible for the publication of the
results.

How is the information collected?
• The NCVS involves interviews of households
scientifically sampled in all 50 states and the District
of Columbia.
• Sample survey methods permit the study of small
numbers of people to obtain needed facts about
the entire population of the country. These methods
greatly reduce the cost of collecting information.
• Interviews are conducted by Census Bureau interviewers either in person or by telephone.

What Information Do You Get From
This Survey?

Figure 1.

• Types and amount of crimes committed.

Crimes Against People: 2005

• Characteristics of victims.

• We interview each selected address once every 6
months over a 3-year period for a total of seven
interviews.
• If you move away while your dwelling is still in the
survey, we would interview the family that moves in.

Rape/sexual assault
3.5%

• Offender characteristics for violent offenses.

Purse snatching/
pocket picking
4.2 %

• Details of crimes, including:
— When and where crimes occur.
— Economic loss to the victim.
— Extent of injuries suffered by the victim.
— Whether the victim knew the offender or
whether they were strangers.
— Whether the offender used a weapon.
— Whether the police were notified.

What Are the Results From the NCVS?

Robbery
11.6 %
Assault
80.7%

• Results for 2005, the most recent year in which
annual estimates are available, showed that assaults
were the single most prevalent type of crime
committed against people (personal crime). They
comprised about 80.7 percent of all personal victimizations in 2005 (see Figure 1).
• Assaults are defined as unlawful physical attacks or
threats of attack made directly toward a person faceto-face. They are classified as simple or aggravated,
with the severity of attack ranging from simple or
minor to nearly fatal.
• The remainder of the personal crimes include
robbery, rape/sexual assault, and purse snatching/
pocket picking. These crimes collectively account for
the remaining 19.3 percent of personal victimizations
in 2005.
• Thefts, such as lawn furniture stolen from a backyard
or a bicycle stolen from a driveway, were the most
common property crimes reported for 2005,
accounting for about 75.4 percent of all property
crimes. Other crimes against property include
burglary, at about 19.2 percent, and motor vehicle
theft, at about 5.4 percent.

Figure 2.
Age of Victim Personal Crimes: 2005
(Rate per 1,000 people)
45

46

48

Property Crimes: 2005
(Percent of total victimization)

• The BJS releases the results of the NCVS on an annual
basis, as well as issues special topical reports on a
periodic basis. It publishes only aggregate statistics
on the country as a whole and never releases information about you as an individual.

How was I selected for this survey?
• We scientifically select a cross-section of addresses,
not you personally, to represent all households in the
United States for this survey.

(Percent of total victimizations)

• In 2005, those under the age of 25 were most likely
to be victimized (see Figure 2). People aged 20–24
had about 48 personal crimes per 1,000 people, the
highest victimization rate. People aged 16–19 had
about 46 personal crimes per 1,000 people, while
people aged 12–15 had about 45 personal crimes
per 1,000 people. On the other hand, people aged
65 and older had about 3 personal crimes per 1,000
people, the lowest victimization rate.

25
18

Theft
75.4%
Burglary
19.2%

12
3
12–15 16–19 20–24 25–34 35–49 50–64

Motor vehicle theft
5.4%

65+

Age of victim

Property crimes
Crimes Against People
Sex of victim
• Males are more frequently victims of personal crimes
of violence than females.
• For personal crimes of violence in 2005, males
experienced about 26 victimizations per 1,000
people, while females experienced about 18
victimizations per 1,000 people.

Age of victim
• A person’s age affects the likelihood of becoming a
victim of crime. NCVS findings show that younger
people are more frequently the victims of personal
crimes than older people.

• We classify property crimes reported to the NCVS into
three major types: burglary, motor vehicle theft, and
theft (includes both attempted and completed
crimes).
— Burglary consists of the actual or attempted
unlawful entry of a house, apartment, or
other residential structure, such as a homeowner’s garage.
— Motor vehicle theft includes theft and
attempted theft of cars, trucks, motorcycles
and other vehicles legally entitled to use the
public roads and highways.
— Theft, the most prevalent property crime,
occurs when an offender takes or attempts
to take cash or property without personal
contact. Incidents involving theft of property
from within the sample household would
classify as a theft if the offender has a legal
right to be in the house, otherwise the
incident would classify as a burglary.