U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report National Crime Victimization Survey, 1995-2000 Violent Victimization of College Students December 2003, NCJ 196143 --------------------------------------------------------------- This file is text only without graphics and many of the tables. A Zip archive of the tables in this report in spreadsheet format (.wk1) and the full report including tables and graphics in .pdf format are available from: http://www.opj.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/vvcs00.htm This report is one in a series. More recent editions may be available. To view a list of all in the series go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#vvcs ---------------------------------------------------------------- By Timothy C. Hart BJS Statistician ----------------------------------------------------- Highlights From 1995 to 2000 violence against college students decreased 40% while violence against nonstudents of similar ages fell 44% On average, from 1995 to 2000, comparing persons age 18-24 - * College students experienced overall violence, robbery, aggravated assault, and serious violent crime at rates lower than those for nonstudents. (College students' simple assault rate was somewhat lower.) * Among women, except for rape/ sexual assault for which there were no statistical differences, college students experienced crimes of violence at lower rates than those of nonstudents. * Among men, college students experienced robbery at a lower rate than that of nonstudents but had a slightly higher rate of simple assault. * For both whites and blacks, students were victims of violence overall at rates lower than those of nonstudents. * Hispanic college students and nonstudents were victims of violence at similar rates. * In 41% of all violent crime experienced by college students, the offender was perceived to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. * Firearms were present in 9% of all violent crimes, 7% of assaults, and 30% of robberies against college students. * The number of off-campus victimizations of college students was over 14 times greater than the number of on-campus victimizations. About 19% of students reside on campus, and about 15% of the violent crimes they experienced took place there. * Violence against college students (34%) was less likely to be reported to the police than violence against nonstudents (47%). ---------------------------------------------------- On average between 1995 and 2000, college students were victims of about 526,000 crimes of violence annually: rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of these violent crimes, an average of about 128,120 per year involved a weapon or serious injury to the victim. Over the same years college students experienced violent crimes at a lower average per capita rate than nonstudents (68 and 82 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 18-24). (For this report nonstudents, like students, were persons age 18-24, but nonstudents were not enrolled full or part time in a college or university.) Similarly, students sustained serious violent crime -- rape, robbery, and aggravated assault -- at a lower rate than did nonstudents (25 and 34 victimizations per 1,000 persons, respectively). Findings about rape, sexual assault, robbery, and assault victimization of college students come from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Characteristics of violent crime victims, 1995-2000 College students On average annually between 1995 and 2000, about 7.7 million people age 18 to 24 were enrolled full or part time in a college or university. These college students experienced overall violent crime, robbery, aggravated assault, and serious violent crime at rates lower than those of nonstudents of similar ages. The rate of simple assault was somewhat lower for students than for nonstudents. Simple assault accounted for about two-thirds of college student violent victimizations (63%), while rape/sexual assault accounted for an estimated 6%. Gender The average annual rate of overall violent crime against female college students (47 per 1,000) was about half that of male college students (91 per 1,000). The average rate of overall violent crime against female nonstudents (78 per 1,000) was about 11% less than that of male nonstudents (87 per 1,000), 1995-2000. Male college students and nonstudents of similar ages were victims of overall violent crime and aggravated assault at similar rates. The average annual rate of robbery against male college students (8 per 1,000) was lower than that of male nonstudents (14 per 1,000). Male college students were slightly more likely to be victims of simple assault (56 per 1,000) than were male nonstudents (48 per 1,000). The average annual violent victimization rate for women college students was less than that for women nonstudents (47 and 78 per 1,000 persons, respectively). In addition to overall violent crime, women college students were less likely than women nonstudents to be victims of robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, and serious violent crime. --------------------------------------- The National Crime Victimization Survey The NCVS is the Nation's primary source of information on the frequency, characteristics, and consequences of criminal victimization. One of the largest continuous household surveys conducted by the Federal Government, the NCVS collects information about crimes both reported and not reported to police. The survey provides the largest national forum for victims to describe their experiences of victimization, the impact of crime, and the characteristics of violent offenders. This report presents the first NCVS estimates of crime against college students. Questions were added to the NCVS in 1995 to obtain information on college enrollment. For the most current overall estimates of criminal victimization in the United States, see Criminal Victimization, 2002, . Other findings from the NCVS are also on the BJS website. ------------------------------------------- The apparent difference in rape/sexual assault rates between female students and nonstudents was not statistically significant. Race Both white and black college students were victims of overall violent crime and simple assault at rates higher than college students of "other races"-- American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, and Pacific Islanders. Black college students were victims of robbery at a rate higher than that of white students. Among students, the rate of serious violent crime was somewhat higher for blacks than for whites. Black college students were victims of simple assault at a rate lower than that for white college students. Black college students were victims of overall violent crime, robbery, simple assault, and serious violent crime at rates lower than those of black nonstudents. Rape/sexual assault and aggravated assault rates for black college students were similar to those for black nonstudents, 1995-2000. College students of other races were victims of violence at rates similar to those nonstudents of "other race." Hispanic origin Hispanic and non-Hispanic college students were victimized by violent crime at similar rates, 1995-2000. Hispanic college students and nonstudents were victims of overall violence at similar rates. Characteristics of violent crime offenders, 1995-2000 Victim-offender relationship For overall violent crime, college students were more likely to be victimized by strangers than by people they knew, 1995- 2000. Strangers committed 59% of all violent victimizations of college students. About 1 of 3 violent victimizations against college students was a simple assault committed by a stranger. The NCVS does not obtain information on whether the offenders were college students. Rape/sexual assault was the only violent crime against college students more likely to be committed by a person the victim knew. Nonstrangers committed 74% of the rape/sexual assaults against college students. Rape/sexual assaults committed against a college student by a known offender accounted for 4% of all violent victimizations against college students. Gang membership A relatively small percentage of college student victims of violent crime believed that the offender was a gang member. The percentage of victimizations for which the student victim identified the offender(s) as gang members ranged from 2% for rape/sexual assault to 10% for aggravated assault, 1995-2000. While about 55% of college student victims of violent crimes reported that offender(s) were not gang members, about 40% could not discern whether the offender(s)belonged to a gang. Drug and alcohol use In 41% of all violent crime experienced by college students and in 38% of the violence against nonstudents, the offender was perceived to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, 1995-2000. Offenders perceived to be using drugs and/or alcohol committed about 2 in 5 rape/sexual assaults and about 1 in 4 robberies against college students. About 4 in 10 college-student victims of violent crime could not discern whether the offender was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Characteristics of criminal events, 1995-2000 Presence of a weapon In all categories of violent crime except robbery, college students were more likely to be victimized by unarmed than by armed offenders, 1995-2000. Weapons were present in 27% of all violent college-student victimizations. The percentage of crimes committed with weapons ranged from 5% for rape/sexual assault to 58% for robbery. Firearms were present in 9% of all violent crimes against college students, including 30% of robberies and 7% of assaults. Offenders were identified as being armed with a knife during 7% of all violent crimes, including 21% of robberies and 6% of assaults committed against college students. Location and time From 1995 to 2000 the majority of violent crimes against college students occurred off campus. The number of off-campus victimizations of college students was over 14 times greater than the number of on-campus victimizations. Seventy-four percent of college students lived off campus, 19% lived on campus, and 7% did not indicate where they lived. Among students with quarters in student housing, about 85% of violent victimizations occurred off campus. Among students living off campus, about 95% of victimizations also occurred off campus. Seventy-one percent of the off-campus violence against college students occurred at night(between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.). Most on-campus violence (57%) against college students occurred during the day (between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.). Injuries and medical treatment Most college students were not injured as a result of the violence against them, 1995-2000: 24% of college-student victims of violence reported being injured. Most injuries to college-student victims were minor, including bruises, cuts, and scrapes. Sixty percent of injured college-student victims were not treated for their injuries. Injured college-student victims who received treatment were more likely to receive treatment at the scene or home (16%) or at a hospital or emergency department (15%)than at a doctor's office or clinic (6%). College student and nonstudent victimization trends, 1995-2000 From 1995 to 2000 victimization trends among college students and nonstudents differed by crime type. Overall violent crime against students fell from 88 to 52 victimizations per 1,000 college students while the rate among nonstudents dropped from 102 to 57 victimizations per 1,000 nonstudents. Over the 6-year period, robbery and simple assault rates decreased for college students while nonstudents experienced declines in robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, and serious violent crime). For each year from 1995 to 2000 college students were victims of robbery at rates at least somewhat lower than those of nonstudents. For most years from 1995 to 2000, college students and nonstudents were victims of aggravated assault at similar rates. In 1995 and 1998 college students were victims of aggravated assault at rates lower than those for nonstudents. While the rates of overall violent crime and simple assault among students and nonstudents declined from 1995 to 2000, the declines were similar for both groups. The apparent difference in trends from 1995 to 2000 of rape/sexual assault rates among college students was not statistically significant. Reporting to the police In general most violence against college students was not reported to police, 1995-2000. Thirty-four percent of all violence against college students and 47% of violence against nonstudents were reported. Eighty-six percent of all rapes/sexual assaults committed against college students were not reported to police, compared to 12% that were reported, 1995-2000. Fifty-two percent of aggravated assaults and 69% of simple assaults committed against college students were not reported to police. From 1995 to 2000 a majority of serious violent crime (57%) suffered by college students went unreported to police. Except for rape/sexual assault and robbery, there was no difference in who reported incidents of victimization of college students to police, 1995-2000. Rape/sexual assault (73%) and robbery (61%) were more likely to be reported by the college-student victim than by someone else. Other crimes were equally reported by the victim and someone else, such as a household member, an official other than the police, or the police at the scene. In general, college-student victims said that violent crime was reported to the police in an effort to “prevent future violence” (20%), to "stop the incident" (19%), or to “punish the offender” (10%), 1995-2000. From 1995 to 2000 a variety of reasons accounted for why college-student victimizations were not reported to police. In general, victims said that college-student victimizations were not reported to police because it was a "private or personal matter" (24%) or because the violence was considered “small/no loss” (20%). From 1995 to 2000, 8% of violence against college students was not reported to police because it was "reported to another official," while 5% was not reported to police because of "fear of reprisal," because of police apathy, or to "protect the offender." Concerns about the police did not prevent college-student victimizations from being reported. Police inefficiency was cited as a reason for not reporting violence 3% of the time, and “police would be biased” was cited 1% of the time as a reason violence was not reported to police, 1995-2000. Survey methodology This report presents data on rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault against college age (18-24 years old) persons from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). The NCVS gathers data on crimes against persons age 12 or older, reported and not reported to the police, from a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. The NCVS provides information about victims (age, gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, income, and educational level), offenders (gender, race, approximate age, and victim-offender relations) and the nature of the crime (time and place of occurrence, use of weapons, nature of injury, and economic consequences). The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 mandated the study of campus victimization. Beginning in 1995 BJS added new items to the NCVS to ascertain the student status of victims of crime. This report compares violent victimization experienced by self- identified, full- or part-time college or university students who are age 18-24 to violent victimization of nonstudents of similar age. Characteristics of offenders and the criminal event involving student victims are examined. Between 1995 and 2000, 549,090 individuals age 12 or older were interviewed. For the overall population, for the years measured, response rates varied between 89% and 91% of eligible individuals. Standard error computations Comparisons of percentages and rates made in this report were tested to determine if observed differences were statistically significant. Differences described as higher, lower, or different passed a hypothesis test at the .05 level of statistical significance (95% confidence level). The tested difference was greater than twice the standard error of that difference. For comparisons that were statistically significant at the 0.10 level (90% confidence level), "somewhat," "slightly," or "marginally" is used to note the nature of the difference. Significance testing calculations were conducted at the Bureau of Justice Statistics using statistical programs developed specifically for the NCVS by the U.S. Census Bureau. These programs take into consideration many aspects of the complex NCVS sample design when calculating generalized variance estimates. Definitions Violent acts covered in this report include rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Overall violent crime is a combination of each type of crime. Serious violent crime includes all types except simple assault: rape/sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. Definitions are as follows: Rape is forced sexual intercourse, including both psychological coercion and physical force. Forced sexual intercourse means vaginal, anal, or oral penetration by the offender(s). This category includes incidents in which the penetration is by a foreign object, attempted rapes, male and female victims, and heterosexual and homosexual rape. Sexual assault covers a wide range of victimizations distinct from rape or attempted rape. These crimes include completed or attempted attacks generally involving unwanted sexual contact between the victim and offender. Sexual assaults may or may not involve force and include such things as grabbing or fondling. Sexual assault also includes verbal threats. Robbery is a completed or attempted theft directly from a person, of property or cash by force or threat of force, with or without a weapons, and with or without an injury. Aggravated assault is defined as a completed or attempted attack with a weapon, regardless of whether or not an injury occurred, and an attack without a weapon in which the victim is seriously injured. -------------------------------------------- Examining NCVS data on college students The NCVS does not differentiate between full-time or part-time students, between students attending private or public institutions, and between students who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. The NCVS asks all household members 12 or older if they are currently attending or enrolled either full- or part-time in a college or university. For this report, in order to best compare the experience of college students to a similar population of non-college students, the analysis was restricted to persons age 18-24. ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- School crime against younger students and their safety For more information about school crime against younger students, see Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2002, a National Center for Education Statistics and BJS report, October 2002, . Highlights of this report include the following: * Students age 12 through 18 were victims of about 1.9 million crimes of violence or theft at school in 2000, including about 128,000 serious violent crimes. * Between 1995 and 2000, the percentage of students who reported being victims of crime at school decreased from 10% to 6%. * The percentage of students age 12 through 18 who reported avoiding one or more places at school for their own safety decreased from 9% to 5% between 1995 and 2001. ------------------------------------------------ Simple assault is an attack without a weapon resulting either in no injury, minor injury (such as bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches, or swelling) or an undetermined injury requiring less than 2 days of hospitalization. Simple assaults also include attempted assaults without a weapon. ----------------------------------------- The BJS website offers this report and the data that it analyzes. -------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Get immediate e-mail notification of BJS releases from JUSTSTATS. Subscribe at . ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. Lawrence A. Greenfeld is director. Timothy Hart wrote this report under the supervision of Michael Rand. Callie Rennison and Patsy Klaus provided statistical assistance and verification. Tom Hester and Tina Dorsey edited the report. Jayne Robinson prepared the report for publication. December 2003, NCJ 196143 ------------------------------------------------ End of file 10/29/03 ih