Canada’s National Survey on Criminal Victimization: Survey Content Presented by Karen Mihorean, Statistics Canada UNECE-UNODC meeting on Crime Statistics,

Canada’s National Survey Canada’s National Survey on Criminal Victimization: on Criminal Victimization:

Survey ContentSurvey ContentPresented by Karen Mihorean, Presented by Karen Mihorean,

Statistics CanadaStatistics CanadaUNECE-UNODC meeting on Crime UNECE-UNODC meeting on Crime

Statistics, January 2006Statistics, January 2006Vienna, AustriaVienna, Austria

Objectives of the General Social Objectives of the General Social Survey ProgramSurvey Program

To gather data on trends in Canadian To gather data on trends in Canadian society over time.society over time.

To provide information on specific policy To provide information on specific policy issues of current or emerging interest.issues of current or emerging interest.

Annual survey with rotating topics:Annual survey with rotating topics:– Education; social support; family; time use; Education; social support; family; time use;

criminal victimizationcriminal victimization

Survey ContentSurvey Content

Core contentCore content– Used to monitor long term social trends.Used to monitor long term social trends.

Focus contentFocus content– Used to provide information on current or Used to provide information on current or

emerging issues or social problems.emerging issues or social problems.

ClassificationClassification– Allows one to examine how certain segments Allows one to examine how certain segments

of the population are affected by the social of the population are affected by the social trend being measured.trend being measured.

Survey contentSurvey content

FearFear

Perceptions of the justice systemPerceptions of the justice system

Precautionary measuresPrecautionary measures

Criminal victimizationCriminal victimization

Spousal violenceSpousal violence

StalkingStalking

Hate-motivated crimeHate-motivated crime

Perceptions of crimePerceptions of crime

Two general questions Two general questions – Comparing crime levels in their neighbourhood to Comparing crime levels in their neighbourhood to

others in their area.others in their area.– Has changed in their neighbourhood.Has changed in their neighbourhood.

How safe/worried you feel from crime…How safe/worried you feel from crime…– Walking alone in your area after dark.Walking alone in your area after dark.– Waiting for or using public transportation alone after Waiting for or using public transportation alone after

dark.dark.– Home alone in the evening or at night.Home alone in the evening or at night.

Perceptions of crimePerceptions of crime

Ask how often they partake in the activity.Ask how often they partake in the activity.

If they never or seldom do these activities, If they never or seldom do these activities, they are asked:they are asked:– ““If you felt safer from crime, would you walk If you felt safer from crime, would you walk

alone/use public transportation… (more alone/use public transportation… (more often)?” often)?”

Question that measures evening activities.Question that measures evening activities.


Do you think your local police force does a good Do you think your local police force does a good job, an average job or a poor job of…job, an average job or a poor job of…– Enforcing the laws;Enforcing the laws;– Promptly responding to calls;Promptly responding to calls;– Being approachable and easy to talk to;Being approachable and easy to talk to;– Supplying information to the public;Supplying information to the public;– Ensuring the safety of citizens;Ensuring the safety of citizens;– Treating people fairly;Treating people fairly;

Contact with the policeContact with the police


Now I would like to ask you a similar question Now I would like to ask you a similar question about the Canadian Criminal courts. Are they about the Canadian Criminal courts. Are they doing a good job, an average job or a poor job doing a good job, an average job or a poor job of:of:– Providing justice quickly;Providing justice quickly;– Helping the victim;Helping the victim;– Determining quilt;Determining quilt;– Ensuring a fair trial.Ensuring a fair trial.

Perception of the sentences handed down in Perception of the sentences handed down in court.court.Contact with Canadian criminal courts.Contact with Canadian criminal courts.


Do you think that the Do you think that the prison systemprison system does a good does a good job, an average job or a poor job of:job, an average job or a poor job of:– Supervising and controlling prisoners;Supervising and controlling prisoners;– Helping prisoners become law-abiding citizens.Helping prisoners become law-abiding citizens.

Do you think that the Do you think that the parole systemparole system does a good does a good job, an average job or a poor job of:job, an average job or a poor job of:– Releasing offenders who are not likely to commit Releasing offenders who are not likely to commit

another offence;another offence;– Supervising offenders.Supervising offenders.

Protection measures used – ever Protection measures used – ever and past 12 monthsand past 12 months

Have you ever done any of the following things Have you ever done any of the following things to protect yourself or your property from crime? to protect yourself or your property from crime? Have you ever:Have you ever:– changed your routine, activities, or avoided certain changed your routine, activities, or avoided certain

places?places?– installed new locks or security bars?installed new locks or security bars?– installed burglar alarms or motion detector lights?installed burglar alarms or motion detector lights?– taken a self-defense course?taken a self-defense course?– changed your phone number?changed your phone number?– obtained a dog?obtained a dog?– obtained a gun?obtained a gun?– changed residence or moved?changed residence or moved?

Protection measures routinely Protection measures routinely takentaken

Do you do any of the following things to make Do you do any of the following things to make yourself safer from crime?yourself safer from crime?– carry something to defend yourself or to alert other carry something to defend yourself or to alert other

people?people?– lock the car doors for your personal safety when lock the car doors for your personal safety when

alone in a car?alone in a car?– when alone and returning to a parked car, check the when alone and returning to a parked car, check the

back seat for intruders before getting into the car?back seat for intruders before getting into the car?– plan your route with safety in mind?plan your route with safety in mind?– stay at home at night?stay at home at night?

In general, how satisfied are you with your In general, how satisfied are you with your personal safety?personal safety?

Criminal victimization screening Criminal victimization screening questionsquestions

Eight types of criminal victimization measured.Eight types of criminal victimization measured.– VandalismVandalism– Theft of household propertyTheft of household property– Motor vehicle/parts theftMotor vehicle/parts theft– Break and enterBreak and enter– Theft of personal propertyTheft of personal property– Physical assaultPhysical assault– Robbery Robbery – Sexual assaultSexual assault

Past 12 monthsPast 12 monthsIncludes incidents committed by family and non-Includes incidents committed by family and non-family members.family members.

Criminal victimization concepts Criminal victimization concepts and definitionsand definitions

VandalismVandalism

““During the past 12 months did anyone During the past 12 months did anyone deliberately damage or destroy any deliberately damage or destroy any property belonging to you or anyone in property belonging to you or anyone in your household, such as a window or a your household, such as a window or a fence?”fence?”

DefinitionDefinition: Wilful damage of personal or : Wilful damage of personal or household property.household property.


RobberyRobbery

““During the past 12 months, did anyone During the past 12 months, did anyone take or try to take something from you by take or try to take something from you by force or threat of force?”force or threat of force?”

DefinitionDefinition: Theft or attempted theft in : Theft or attempted theft in which the perpetrator had a weapon or which the perpetrator had a weapon or there was violence or the threat of there was violence or the threat of violence against the victim.violence against the victim.


Break and enterBreak and enter

““During the past 12 months, did anyone During the past 12 months, did anyone illegally break into or attempt to break into illegally break into or attempt to break into your residence or any other building on your residence or any other building on your property?”your property?”

Definition:Definition: Illegal entry or attempted entry Illegal entry or attempted entry into a residence or other building on the into a residence or other building on the victim’s property.victim’s property.

Criminal victimization conceptsCriminal victimization concepts and definitions and definitions

Household theftHousehold theft““Was anything of yours stolen during the Was anything of yours stolen during the past 12 months from the things usually past 12 months from the things usually kept outside your home, such as yard kept outside your home, such as yard furniture?”furniture?”Definition:Definition: theft or attempted theft of theft or attempted theft of household property such as liquor, household property such as liquor, bicycles, electronic equipment, tools or bicycles, electronic equipment, tools or appliances.appliances.


Personal property theftPersonal property theft

““Was anything of yours stolen during the past 12 Was anything of yours stolen during the past 12 months from your place of work, from school or months from your place of work, from school or from a public place, such as a restaurant?”from a public place, such as a restaurant?”

Definition:Definition: theft or attempted theft of personal theft or attempted theft of personal property such as money, credit cards, clothing, property such as money, credit cards, clothing, jewellery, a purse or a wallet.jewellery, a purse or a wallet.


Motor vehicle/parts theftMotor vehicle/parts theftScreening question on car ownership.Screening question on car ownership.““Did anyone steal or try to steal one of Did anyone steal or try to steal one of these vehicles or a part of one of them, these vehicles or a part of one of them, such as a battery, hubcap or radio?”such as a battery, hubcap or radio?”

Definition:Definition: theft or attempted theft of a car, theft or attempted theft of a car, truck, van, motorcycle, moped or other truck, van, motorcycle, moped or other vehicle or part of a motor vehicle.vehicle or part of a motor vehicle.


Physical assaultsPhysical assaults““Now I'm going to ask you about being attacked in the Now I'm going to ask you about being attacked in the past 12 months. An attack can be anything from being past 12 months. An attack can be anything from being hit, slapped, pushed or grabbed, to being shot or hit, slapped, pushed or grabbed, to being shot or beaten.”beaten.”““Excluding acts committed by current or previous Excluding acts committed by current or previous spouses or common-law partners, were you attacked by spouses or common-law partners, were you attacked by anyone in the past 12 months?”anyone in the past 12 months?”““Did anyone threaten to hit or attack you, or threaten you Did anyone threaten to hit or attack you, or threaten you with a weapon?”with a weapon?”

Definition:Definition: An attack, a face-to-face threat of physical An attack, a face-to-face threat of physical harm, or an incident with a weapon present.harm, or an incident with a weapon present.


Sexual assaultsSexual assaults““Has anyone forced you or attempted to force you into Has anyone forced you or attempted to force you into any unwanted sexual activity, by threatening you, holding any unwanted sexual activity, by threatening you, holding you down or hurting you in some way?”you down or hurting you in some way?”““Has anyone ever touched you against your will in any Has anyone ever touched you against your will in any sexual way? By this I mean anything from unwanted sexual way? By this I mean anything from unwanted touching or grabbing, to kissing or fondling.”touching or grabbing, to kissing or fondling.”

Definition:Definition: Forced sexual activity, an attempt at forced Forced sexual activity, an attempt at forced sexual activity, or unwanted sexual touching, grabbing, sexual activity, or unwanted sexual touching, grabbing, kissing, or fondling.kissing, or fondling.

Criminal victimization incident Criminal victimization incident reportreport

Location of incidentLocation of incident– Workplace improvedWorkplace improved

WeaponWeaponHow assaultedHow assaultedHow threatenedHow threatenedInjuryInjuryMedical attentionMedical attentionTake time offTake time offAlcohol/Drug relatedAlcohol/Drug relatedNumber of offendersNumber of offenders

Sex & age of offenderSex & age of offenderRelationship to offenderRelationship to offenderHate motivatedHate motivatedAnything stolen/damagedAnything stolen/damagedCompensationCompensationDifficulty carrying out Difficulty carrying out activitiesactivitiesPolice – why/why notPolice – why/why notFormal/informal supportsFormal/informal supportsVictim-offender mediationVictim-offender mediationHow affectedHow affected


Since 1999 part of the core content.Since 1999 part of the core content.Emotional and financial abuse:Emotional and financial abuse:– Limits contact with family and friends;Limits contact with family and friends;– Puts you down or calls you names to make you feel bad;Puts you down or calls you names to make you feel bad;– Jealous and doesn’t want you to talk to other men/women;Jealous and doesn’t want you to talk to other men/women;– Harms, or threatens to harm, someone close to you;Harms, or threatens to harm, someone close to you;– Demands to know who you are with and where you are at all Demands to know who you are with and where you are at all

times.times.– Damages or destroys your possessions or property;Damages or destroys your possessions or property;– Prevents you from knowing about or having access to family Prevents you from knowing about or having access to family

income, even when you ask.income, even when you ask.


During the past 5 years has your current/previous During the past 5 years has your current/previous spouse/partner…spouse/partner…– Threatened to hit you with his/her fist or anything else that could Threatened to hit you with his/her fist or anything else that could

have hurt you?have hurt you?– Thrown anything at you that could have hurt you?Thrown anything at you that could have hurt you?– Pushed, grabbed, or shoved you in a way that could have hurt Pushed, grabbed, or shoved you in a way that could have hurt

you?you?– Slapped you?Slapped you?– Kicked you, bit you, or hit you with his/her fist? Kicked you, bit you, or hit you with his/her fist? – Hit you with something that could have hurt you?Hit you with something that could have hurt you?– Beaten you?Beaten you?– Choked you?Choked you?– Used or threatened to use a gun or knife on you?Used or threatened to use a gun or knife on you?– Forced you into any unwanted sexual activity , by threatening Forced you into any unwanted sexual activity , by threatening

you, holding you down, or hurting you in some way?you, holding you down, or hurting you in some way?

Abuse reportAbuse report

Physical injury by type of Physical injury by type of injuryinjurySought medical attention, Sought medical attention, hospitalizationhospitalizationStay in bed/Take time off Stay in bed/Take time off Partner’s alcohol usePartner’s alcohol useAnyone else harmed or Anyone else harmed or threatened, including kidsthreatened, including kidsChildren witnessed Children witnessed violenceviolenceFear for lifeFear for life

CompensationCompensationPolice intervention - why Police intervention - why reported or not, reported or not, satisfaction with actionssatisfaction with actionsRestraining ordersRestraining ordersUse of informal and Use of informal and formal supports (reason formal supports (reason not used)not used)Victim-offender mediationVictim-offender mediationEmotional impact of Emotional impact of violenceviolence

StalkingStalking

Phoned you repeatedly or made silent or obscene Phoned you repeatedly or made silent or obscene phone calls?phone calls?Followed you or spied on you? Followed you or spied on you? Waited outside your home?Waited outside your home?Waited outside your place of work or school or other Waited outside your place of work or school or other places you were, when they had no business being places you were, when they had no business being there?there?Sent you unwanted e-mail messages?Sent you unwanted e-mail messages?Sent you unwanted gifts, letters, or cards?Sent you unwanted gifts, letters, or cards?Persistently asked you for a date and refused to take no Persistently asked you for a date and refused to take no for an answer?for an answer?Tried to communicate with you against your will in any Tried to communicate with you against your will in any other way?other way?

Did you fear for your safety or the safety of someone Did you fear for your safety or the safety of someone known to you?known to you?

Stalking continuedStalking continuedHas anyone attempted to intimidate or threaten Has anyone attempted to intimidate or threaten you by threatening or intimidating someone you by threatening or intimidating someone else?else?Has anyone attempted to intimidate or threaten Has anyone attempted to intimidate or threaten you by hurting your pet(s) or damaging your you by hurting your pet(s) or damaging your property?property?

DetailsDetailsLength, physical attack, sex of perpetrator, Length, physical attack, sex of perpetrator, relationship to victim, changed behavior, fear, relationship to victim, changed behavior, fear, support, police contact (why/why not), support, police contact (why/why not), restraining orders, satisfaction with justice restraining orders, satisfaction with justice system.system.

ConclusionConclusion

Since 1988 the GSS on Victimization has Since 1988 the GSS on Victimization has undergone major transformation.undergone major transformation.– Improving existing measures.Improving existing measures.– Adding new survey content.Adding new survey content.

80% response rate.80% response rate.Data widely disseminated through a number of Data widely disseminated through a number of reports.reports.GapsGaps– FraudFraud– Frequency of the survey.Frequency of the survey.

Documents

Canada’s National Survey on Criminal Victimization: Survey Content Presented by Karen Mihorean, Statistics Canada UNECE-UNODC meeting on Crime Statistics,