Victims of Crime Victims of Crime in Scotlandin ScotlandExamining the Causes, Examining the Causes,

Consequences and Impact of Consequences and Impact of Criminal Victimisation using Criminal Victimisation using Scottish CrimeScottish Crime and Justiceand Justice

Survey DataSurvey DataStephanie Fohring BA, MScStephanie Fohring BA, MSc

PhD CandidatePhD Candidate

The Scottish Crime and The Scottish Crime and Justice SurveyJustice Survey

Crime surveys have been carried out in Scotland since Crime surveys have been carried out in Scotland since the early 1980’s although in 1982 and 1988 the Scottish the early 1980’s although in 1982 and 1988 the Scottish Crime Survey formed part of the British Crime SurveyCrime Survey formed part of the British Crime Survey

In 1993, however, the first independent SCS was run in In 1993, however, the first independent SCS was run in Scotland and was repeated in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006 Scotland and was repeated in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2008.and 2008.

Prior to the 2003 survey, interviews were conducted Prior to the 2003 survey, interviews were conducted every three years with approximately 5000 participants every three years with approximately 5000 participants using face to face interviews.using face to face interviews.

The most recent sweep of the survey in 2008 has seen The most recent sweep of the survey in 2008 has seen some major changes such as an increase in sample to some major changes such as an increase in sample to approximately 16, 000 participants, a much larger approximately 16, 000 participants, a much larger survey now called the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey.survey now called the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey.

Related Related Theories of Theories of VictimisationVictimisation

Routine-Activity Theory/Lifestyle Theory: Routine-Activity Theory/Lifestyle Theory: absence of guardians, presence of absence of guardians, presence of motivated offenders and desirable targets motivated offenders and desirable targets (Cohen and Felson, 1979)(Cohen and Felson, 1979)

Multiple/Repeat Victimisation Theories: Multiple/Repeat Victimisation Theories: prevention targeted; prior victimisation prevention targeted; prior victimisation increases risk of subsequent victimisation increases risk of subsequent victimisation (Farrell and Pease, 1993)(Farrell and Pease, 1993)

Immunisation Theory: victimisation result Immunisation Theory: victimisation result of incapacity to remove oneself from risk of incapacity to remove oneself from risk (Hope and Trickett, 2008)(Hope and Trickett, 2008)

Research QuestionsResearch Questions Do certain individual vs. community level characteristics Do certain individual vs. community level characteristics

put people at greater/lesser risk of victimisation?put people at greater/lesser risk of victimisation? Do these same variables influence how a victim Do these same variables influence how a victim

progresses through the CJS? (ie reporting, uptake of and progresses through the CJS? (ie reporting, uptake of and satisfaction with services)satisfaction with services)

Do these same variables influence the impact of a crime Do these same variables influence the impact of a crime on a victim?on a victim?

What is the impact (physical, psychological, financial) of What is the impact (physical, psychological, financial) of serious* crime on victims? serious* crime on victims?

Does the impact of serious crime affect the decision to Does the impact of serious crime affect the decision to uptake services? uptake services?

*offences prescribed for the purposes of Section 14(2) of the Criminal Justice Scotland Act *offences prescribed for the purposes of Section 14(2) of the Criminal Justice Scotland Act 20032003

Mixed MethodologyMixed Methodology

Quantitative: development Quantitative: development of 2 modelsof 2 models

１：１： Logistic/Ordinal Logistic/Ordinal Regression will be used to Regression will be used to create a model of risk based create a model of risk based on individual characteristics on individual characteristics alone and in combination alone and in combination with community level with community level characteristics (see Sampson characteristics (see Sampson and Wooldregde, 1987).and Wooldregde, 1987).

2. Multi-level modeling will 2. Multi-level modeling will be used to develop a model be used to develop a model of victim services uptake, of victim services uptake, and to examine differences and to examine differences b/t groups at each levelb/t groups at each level

VicitmisatVicitmisation in ion in

Scotland Scotland by Police by Police

Force Force AreaArea

(an example of a (an example of a community level community level

variable)variable)

A.A. Content Analysis of Content Analysis of Victim Statements Victim Statements

- Scotland has recently - Scotland has recently introduced a Victim introduced a Victim Statement Scheme (April Statement Scheme (April 1, 2009).1, 2009).

- Any victim of serious Any victim of serious crime is entitled to make crime is entitled to make a statement, to be heard a statement, to be heard by the court after by the court after conviction, prior to conviction, prior to sentencingsentencing

- Wealth of information - Wealth of information on psychological, on psychological, physical and financial physical and financial impact of crimeimpact of crime

B.B. Interviews with Interviews with Survey RespondentsSurvey Respondents

- During the data During the data collection phase of the collection phase of the 2008 survey, 2008 survey, respondents were asked respondents were asked if they could be if they could be contacted for future contacted for future research purposes, research purposes, allowing for follow upallowing for follow up

- Source of data relating - Source of data relating to victims decisions to to victims decisions to report/not, uptake report/not, uptake services, and ongoing services, and ongoing impact of the impact of the vicitmisationvicitmisation

Applied Value of the Applied Value of the Project:Project:

Inform policy (new Scottish Strategy Inform policy (new Scottish Strategy

for Victims in the works)for Victims in the works) Provide feedback on new victim Provide feedback on new victim

statement schemestatement scheme Encourage use of Scottish Crime and Encourage use of Scottish Crime and

Justice Survey data; virtually unused, Justice Survey data; virtually unused, wealth of research opportunitieswealth of research opportunities