Victims of Crime in Scotland Examining the Causes, Consequences and Impact of Criminal Victimisation using Scottish Crime and Justice Survey Data Stephanie Fohring BA, MSc PhD Candidate

The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey Crime surveys have been carried out in Scotland since the early 1980’s although in 1982 and 1988 the Scottish Crime Survey formed part of the British Crime Survey Crime surveys have been carried out in Scotland since the early 1980’s although in 1982 and 1988 the Scottish Crime Survey formed part of the British Crime Survey In 1993, however, the first independent SCS was run in Scotland and was repeated in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006 and In 1993, however, the first independent SCS was run in Scotland and was repeated in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006 and Prior to the 2003 survey, interviews were conducted every three years with approximately 5000 participants using face to face interviews. Prior to the 2003 survey, interviews were conducted every three years with approximately 5000 participants using face to face interviews. The most recent sweep of the survey in 2008 has seen some major changes such as an increase in sample to approximately 16, 000 participants, a much larger survey now called the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey. The most recent sweep of the survey in 2008 has seen some major changes such as an increase in sample to approximately 16, 000 participants, a much larger survey now called the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey.

Related Theories of Victimisation Routine-Activity Theory/Lifestyle Theory: absence of guardians, presence of motivated offenders and desirable targets (Cohen and Felson, 1979) Routine-Activity Theory/Lifestyle Theory: absence of guardians, presence of motivated offenders and desirable targets (Cohen and Felson, 1979) Multiple/Repeat Victimisation Theories: prevention targeted; prior victimisation increases risk of subsequent victimisation (Farrell and Pease, 1993) Multiple/Repeat Victimisation Theories: prevention targeted; prior victimisation increases risk of subsequent victimisation (Farrell and Pease, 1993) Immunisation Theory: victimisation result of incapacity to remove oneself from risk (Hope and Trickett, 2008) Immunisation Theory: victimisation result of incapacity to remove oneself from risk (Hope and Trickett, 2008)

Research Questions Do certain individual vs. community level characteristics put people at greater/lesser risk of victimisation? Do certain individual vs. community level characteristics put people at greater/lesser risk of victimisation? Do these same variables influence how a victim progresses through the CJS? (ie reporting, uptake of and satisfaction with services) Do these same variables influence how a victim progresses through the CJS? (ie reporting, uptake of and satisfaction with services) Do these same variables influence the impact of a crime on a victim? Do these same variables influence the impact of a crime on a victim? What is the impact (physical, psychological, financial) of serious* crime on victims? What is the impact (physical, psychological, financial) of serious* crime on victims? Does the impact of serious crime affect the decision to uptake services? Does the impact of serious crime affect the decision to uptake services? *offences prescribed for the purposes of Section 14(2) of the Criminal Justice Scotland Act 2003

Mixed Methodology Quantitative: development of 2 models １： Logistic/Ordinal Regression will be used to create a model of risk based on individual characteristics alone and in combination with community level characteristics (see Sampson and Wooldregde, 1987). 2. Multi-level modeling will be used to develop a model of victim services uptake, and to examine differences b/t groups at each level

Vicitmisation in Scotland by Police Force Area (an example of a community level variable)

A. Content Analysis of Victim Statements - Scotland has recently introduced a Victim Statement Scheme (April 1, 2009). - Any victim of serious crime is entitled to make a statement, to be heard by the court after conviction, prior to sentencing - Wealth of information on psychological, physical and financial impact of crime B. Interviews with Survey Respondents - During the data collection phase of the 2008 survey, respondents were asked if they could be contacted for future research purposes, allowing for follow up - Source of data relating to victims decisions to report/not, uptake services, and ongoing impact of the vicitmisation

Applied Value of the Project: Inform policy (new Scottish Strategy for Victims in the works) Inform policy (new Scottish Strategy for Victims in the works) Provide feedback on new victim statement scheme Provide feedback on new victim statement scheme Encourage use of Scottish Crime and Justice Survey data; virtually unused, wealth of research opportunities Encourage use of Scottish Crime and Justice Survey data; virtually unused, wealth of research opportunities