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US. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
September 2020, NO 255113
Criminal Victimization, 2019
Rachel H. Morgan, Ph.D., and Jennifer L. Truman, Ph.D., BIS Statisticians
A
fter rising from 1.1 million in 2015 to 1.4
million in 2018, the number of persons
who were victims of violent crime
excluding simple assault dropped to 1.2 million
in 2019. This is the first statistically significant
decrease in the number of persons who were
victims of violent crime excluding simple assault
since 2015, and it corresponds with a decline in
the number of victims of rape or sexual assault
from 2018 to 2019. Based on the National Crime
Victimization Survey (NCVS), the nation's
largest crime survey, the portion of U.S. residents
age 12 or older who were victims of one or more
violent crimes excluding simple assault declined
from 0.50% (about 1 in 200 persons) in 2018 to
0.44% (about 1 in 230 persons) in 2019, a 12%
decrease (figure 1).
FIGURE 1
Percent of U.S. residents age 12 or older who were victims of violent crime excluding simple assault
Percent
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
93 95
OD
'Os
'10
15
19
1993-2019
Percent
0.6
03
OA
03
01
0.1
0.0
2015-2019
'15
Note: Estimates include 95% confidence intervals. See table 18 for definitions and appendix table I for estimates and standard errors.
Estimates tor 2006 should not be compared to other years and are excluded from the 1993-2019 figure.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 1993-2019.
HIGHLIGHTS
■ The rate of violent crime excluding simple assault
declined 15% from 2018 to 2019, from 8.6 to 7.3
victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.
■ Among females, the rate of violent victimization
excluding simple assault fell 27% from 2018
to 2019.
■ There were 880,000 fewer victims of serious
crimes (generally felonies) in 2019 than In 2018.
a 19% drop.
■ From 2018 to 2019.29% fewer black persons
and 22% fewer white persons were victims of
serious crimes.
■ The rate of violent victimization in urban areas—
based on the NCV5's new classifications of urban,
suburban, and rural areas—declined 20% from
2018 to 2019.
■ Based on the 2019 survey, less than half (41%) of
violent victimizations were reported to police.
■ The percentage of violent victimizations reported
to police was lower for white victims (37%) than
for black (49%) or Hispanic victims (49%).
■ The portion of violent incidents involving black
offenders (25%) was 2.3 times the portion
involving black victims (11%), while the portion
involving Asian offenders (1.0%) was 0.4 times
the portion involving Asian victims (2.3%).
■ The rate of property crime declined 6% from
2018 (108.2 victimizations per 1,000 households)
to 2019 (101.4 per 1,000).
■ The percentage of households that were
burglarized declined to the lowest level since the
NCVS was redesigned in 1993.
CO
C
CD
r+
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The percentage of households that experienced burglary
(0.82%), which is unlawful or forcible entry or attempted
entry of places in connection with a completed or
attempted theft, was the lowest since the NCVS was
redesigned in 1993. After peaking in 1994 (2.89%), this
type of crime has generally declined over time, hitting a
new low in 2019 (figure 2).1 The burglary prevalence rate
fell 23% from 2018 to 2019.
The NCVS is a self-reported survey administered
annually from January 1 to December 31. Annual NCVS
estimates are based on the number and characteristics
of crimes respondents experienced during the prior 6
months, not including the month in which they were
interviewed. Therefore, the 2019 survey covers crimes
experienced from July 1, 2018 to November 30, 2019,
and March 15, 2019 is the middle of the reference period.
Crimes are classified by the year of the survey and not by
the year of the crime.
NCVS data can be used to produce—
■ Prevalence estimates: The number or percentage of
unique persons who were crime victims, or of unique
households that experienced crime.
■ Victimization estimates: The total number of times
that people or households were victimized by crime.
For personal crimes, the number of victimizations
is the number of victims of that crime. Each crime
against a household is counted as having a single
victim—the affected household.
■ Incident estimates: The number of specific criminal
acts involving one or more victims.
(See Measurement of crime in the National Crime
Victimization Survey, page 29.)
1ln this report, significance is reported at both the 90% and
95% confidence levels. See figures and tables (or testing on
specific findings.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
FIGURE 2
Percent of U.S. households who were victims of burglary,
1993-2019
Percent
33
3.0
2.S
1.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
'93 '95
'00
'05
'10
'15
19
Note: Estimates include 95% confidence intervals. Burglary is the unlawful
or forcibleentry or attempted entry of places. including a permanent
residence. other residence (e.g.. a hotel room or vacation residence). or
other structure (e.g.. a garage or shed) where there was a completed
or attempted theft. See appendix table 2 for estimates and standard
errors. Estimates for 2006 should not be compared to other years and are
excluded from this figure (see Criminal Krtimization, 2007 MO 224390.
WS. December 2008)).
Source: Bureau oflustice Statistic. National Crime Victimization Survey.
19934019.
2
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Victimization estimates
Victimizations reflect the total number of times that
people or households were victimized by crime.
From 1993 to 2019, the rate of violent victimization
excluding simple assault declined 75%, from 29.1 to
7.3 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older
(figure 3).2 (Simple assault is the category of violent
victimization captured by the NCVS that is least likely to
be prosecuted as a felony.) Similarly, the rate of violent
victimization reported to police, excluding simple
assault, declined 77% during this period, from 14.9 to
14 victimizations reported to police per 1,000 persons
age 12 or older.
The rate of violent victimization excluding simple
assault decreased from 2018 to 2019
After increasing 27% from 2015 to 2018 (from 6.8 to 8.6
victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older), the
rate of violent victimization excluding simple assault
declined 15% in 2019 (to 7.3 per 1,000) (table 1). This
decrease was driven partly by a decline in rape or sexual
assault victimizations, which declined from 2.7 per 1,000
persons age 12 or older in 2018 to 1.7 per 1,000 in 2019.
2Violent crime excluding simple assault was called serious violent
crime in NCVS reports prior to Criminal Victimization, 2078.
FIGURE 3
Rate of violent victimization excluding simple assault
and rate of violent victimization reported to police,
excluding simple assault, 1993-2019
Rate per 1.000 peoons age 12 or older
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
Violent victimization. excluding simple assault
.
1*k•H+
11.-freh i
r t`i—l'rrrt"*H--rt Y
laden vlaknIzatkins reported to ponce. excluding simple assault
'93 '95
'00
l l l l
'05
'10
'15
I
'19
Note: Estimates include 95% confidence intervals. See appendix table 3 for
estimates and standard errors. Estimates for 2006 should not be compared
to other years and are excluded from this figure (see Criminal Victimization.
2007 (NC 224390. BJS. December 20061).
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey.
1993-2019.
TABLE 1
Number and rate of violent victimization, by type of crime, 2015-2019
T_ypeof
crime
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019°
Number
Rate per
1,007
Number
Rateper
1,00V
Number
Rate per
1,000a
Rate per
Number 1,007
Number
Rate pm
1,00e
Violent crime
5.006,620T 18.6
5353220
19.7
5,612,670
20.6
6385520
23.2
5,813,410
21.0
Rape/sexual assault'
431,840
1.6
298.410 t
1.1*
391980
1.4
734,630 t
2.7
459,310
1.7
Robbery
578,580
2.1
458.810
1.7
613.840
23
573,100
2.1
534,420
1.9
Assault
3,996,200T 14.8*
4.596400
16.9
4,604.850
16.9
5,077,790
18.4
4,819,680
17.4
Aggravated assault
816,760T
3.0
1,040,580
3.8
993.170
3.6
1,058,040
3.8
1,019,490
3.7
Simpleassault
3,179,440T 11.8
3,556,020
13.1
3,611.680
133
4,019.750
14.6
3,800,190
13.7
Violent crime excluding
simple assau
1.827,170
6.8
1.797.790
6.6
2.000.990
73
2.365.770t 8.6t
2,013,220
73
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.Violent•crime categories indude rape or sexual assault, robbery. aggravated assault. and simple
assault. and they include threatened. attempted. and completed occurrences of those crimes.Year4coyear statistically significant differences may vary
from those previously reported. Previously. BJS created standard errors and presented testing for statistically significant differences among National Crime
Victimization Survey INCVS) estimates in this table using generalized variance function parameters. while this table uses the Balanced Repeated Replication
method. See Methodology for more information on the differences between these methods of variance estimation. See appendbc table 5 for standard errors.
*Comparison year.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 90% confidence level.
agate is per 1.000 persons age 12 or older. See appendix table 34 for population numbers.
bExdudes homicide because the NCVS is based on interviews with victims.
cSee Methodology for details on the measurement of rape or sexual assault in the NCVS.
dlndudes rape or sexual assault. robbery. and aggravated assault: this category was called serious violent crime prior to Criminal Vktimization. 2078.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2015.2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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From 2018 to 2019, there was no statistically significant
change in the rate of total violent victimization, which
includes simple assault. Based on the 2019 survey, about
65% of total violent victimizations were simple assault,
with the remaining 35% being rape or sexual assault,
robbery, or aggravated assault. There were no statistically
significant changes in the rates of robbery, aggravated
assault, or simple assault from 2018 to 2019.
Rates of property victimization decreased from 2018
to 2019
The 2019 survey found that an estimated 12.8 million
U.S. households experienced one or more property
victimizations, which include burglaries, residential
trespassing, motor-vehicle thefts, and other thefts
(table 2). After remaining relatively stable from 2017
(108.4 victimizations per 1,000 households) to 2018
(108.2 per 1,000), the property-crime victimization
TABLE 2
Number and rate of
2015
2016
2017
2018
2olso
ReOtit
t
er
Ra te
per
Rate
OW
per
Type of property crime
Number 1.00;er
Number
Number
1Ra,a
r
Total
14,611,040 110.7t
15.815,310 1186t
13,340,220
108.41
13.502,840t 10811
_Number
12,818,000
101.4
Burglary/trespassingb
2,904,570
22.0 t
3,160,450
23.7 t
2,538,170 t
20.6 t
2,639,620 t
21.1 t
2,178,400
17.2
Burglary<
2,020,730
153 t
2,205,180
1651
1,688,890
13.71
1.867.620 t
15.01
1,484,730
11.7
Trespassingd
883,850
6.7*
955,270
711
849280*
&9t
772.000
61
693,670
5.5
Motor•vehide theft
564,160
4.3
618,330
4.6
516,810
4.2
534,010
43
495,670
3.9
Other thefte
11.142310
84.4
12.036,530
903t
10,285.240
83.6
10.329.210
82.7
10,143.930
80.2
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. Categories include threatened, attempted. and completed crimes. The number of property crimes
should not be compared from 2017. 2018. or 2019 to 2016 or 2015. as the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) household weighting adjustment
was updated for 2017 onward. which decreased the number of estimated households by about 8%. Property crime rates are unaffected by this change. See
Methodology for details.Yeapto-year statistically significant differences may vary from those previously reported. Previously. ENS created standard errors
and presented testing for statistically significant differences among NCVS estimates in this table using generalized variance function parameters. while this
table uses the Balanced Repeated Replication method. See Methodology for more information. See appendix table 6 for standard errors.
'Comparison year.
Mifference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 90% confidence level.
agate is per 1.000 households. See appendix table 35 for number of households.
bCalled household burglary prior to Criminal Victimization, 20 /8.Includes unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of places. including a permanent
residence. other residence le.g.. a hotel room or vacation residence). or other structure (e.g.. a garage or shed). but does not include trespassing on land.
clndudes only crimes where the offender committed or attempted a theft. Estimates differ from those previously published in the Criminal Victimization.
20)8 report because a coding error that affected the generation of those eadier estimates has been corrected.
dlncludes aimes where the offender did not commit or attempt a theft. Does not include trespassing on land. Estimates differ from those previously
published in the Criminal Victimization, 20f8 report because a coding error that affected the generation of those earlier estimates has been corrected.
elncludes other unlawful taking or attempted unlawful taking of property or cash without personal contact with the victim. Incidents involving theft of
property from within the same household would classify as theft if the offender has a legal right to be in the house (such as a maid. delivery person. or
guest). If the offender has no legal right to be in the house. the incident would classify as a burglary.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey, 2015-2019.
property victimizations, by type of crime, 2015-2019
NCVS methods of variance estimation
For surveys with complex sample designs, such as the
NCVS, several methods can be used to estimate the
magnitude of sampling error associated with an estimate.
In previous reports, BJS has used both generalized
variance function (GVF) parameters and direct-variance
estimation for generating standard errors and testing
statistically significant differences between NCVS
estimates. Compared to GVFs, direct-variance estimation
is generally considered more accurate in approximating
the true variance.
This year's bulletin presents tables 1 and 2 using the
Balanced Repeated Replication (BRR) method, a form of
direct-variance estimation, and continues to present other
victimization and incidence estimates using GVFs (except
for totals in tables 4, 9,24, and 25 that are also presented
in tables 1 and 2, and statistics in table 12 that are based
on the new classification of urban, suburban, and rural
areas).The Taylor Series Linearization (TSL) method,
another form of direct-variance estimation, continues
to be used to generate standard errors for prevalence
estimates. BJS has an active research program on direct-
variance estimation that seeks to improve the quality
and accuracy of NCVS estimates. See Methodology for
more details.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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rate declined 6% from 2018 (108.2 per 1,000) to 2019
(101.4 per 1,000). This decline was partly due to a 22%
decrease in burglary (15.0 to 11.7 burglaries per 1,000
households). As with the prevalence of burglary, this was
the lowest observed rate of burglary victimization since
the NCVS was redesigned in 1993.
There were nearly 1.2 million domestic-violence
victimizations
The rate of domestic violence, which includes a subset of
violent victimizations that were committed by intimate
partners or family members, was 4.2 victimizations
per 1,000 persons age 12 or older, based on the 2019
survey (table 3). This was not a statistically significant
change from the rate in 2018 (4.8 per 1,000). There were
TABLE 3
Number and rate of violent victimizations, by selected
characteristics of violent crime, 2018 and 2019
2018
2019•
Selected characteristics of
Rate per
violent crime
Number 1,000a
Rate per
Number 1,000'
Domestic violence
1,333,050
4.8
1.164,540
4.2
Intimate partner violence
847,230
3.1
695,060
2.5
Stranger violenced
2,493,750
9.1
2,254,740
8.1
Violent crime involving injury 1,449,530
53
1,265,680
4.6
Violent crime involving a
weapon
1,329,700
4.8
1.119,060
4.0
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.Violent•aime
categories include rape or sexual assault. robbery. aggravated assault. and
simple assault.They also include threatened. attempted. and completed
occurrences of those crimes.Other violent-crime categories in this table.
including domestic violence and violent crime involving injury. are not
mutually exclusive from these categories or from each other. See appendix
table 7 for standard errors.
'Comparison year.
agate is tper 1.000 persons age 12 or older. See appendix table 34 for
population numbers.
bIncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by
intimate partners or family members.
cIncludes the subset of domestic•violence victimizations that were
committed by intimate partners. which include current or former spouses.
boyfriends. or girlfriends.
dlncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by
someone unknown to the victim.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey.
2018 and 2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
also no statistically significant changes in the rates of
intimate-partner violence, stranger violence, violent
crime involving injury, and violent crime involving a
weapon, from 2018 to 2019.
The rate of completed violent victimization
decreased from 2018 to 2019
The NCVS measures completed, attempted, and
threatened violent victimizations experienced by persons
age 12 or older. From 2018 to 2019, the rate of completed
violent victimizations decreased from 6.9 victimizations
per 1,000 persons to 5.5 per 1,000 (table 4). There was no
statistically significant change in the rate of attempted or
threatened violent victimization from 2018 to 2019.
TABLE4
Rate of completed, attempted, and threatened violent
victimizations, 2015-2019
Violent victimizations
2015
2016
2017
2018
2017
Totala
18.6
192
20.6
23.2
21.0
Completed
6.0
5.1
5.6
6.9 3
53
Attempted
6.4
6.0
6.8
72
7.0
Threatened
6.1 '1
83
82
92
85
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. Rate is per 1,000
persons age 12 or older. See appendix table 34 for population numbers.
Violent•victimization categories include rape or sexual assault. robbery.
aggravated assault. and simple assault. See appendix table 8 for
standard errors.
'Comparison year.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 95%
confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90%
confidence level.
aStatistkally significant differences for the total victimization rates are
presented using the Balanced Repeated Replication method.Generalized
variance function parameters were used to cakulate statistically significant
differences for the rest of the table.
Source Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey.
2015.2019.
5
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The Uniform Crime Reporting program and the National Crime Victimization
Survey together provide a complementary picture of crime in the U.S.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime
Victimization Survey (NCVS) measures crime reported
and not reported to police. The Uniform Crime Reporting
(UCR) program, administered by the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI), measures only crime recorded
by police.
In 2018, the UCR reported that 3.7 total violent crimes
(including murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape,
robbery, and aggravated assault) per 1,000 residents and
22.0 property crimes (including burglary and
motor-vehicle theft) per 1,000 residents were known to
law enforcement (table 5).The 2018 NCVS estimated
that 4.3 violent crimes excluding simple assault per 1,000
persons age 12 or older, and 36.9 property crimes per
1,000 households, were reported to law enforcement. The
2019 NCVS estimated that 3.4 violent crimes excluding
simple assault per 1,000 persons age 12 or older, and
33.0 property crimes per 1,000 households, were reported
to law enforcement.;
Because the NCVS and the UCR measure an overlapping,
but not identical, set of offenses and use different
approaches in measuring them, complete congruity
should not be expected between estimates from these
two sources. Restricting the NCVS to violent crime
reported to police, and excluding simple assault, keeps
the measures as similar as possible. However, significant
methodological and definitional differences remain
between how these violent crimes are measured in the
NCVS and the UCR:
■ The UCR includes murder, non-negligent manslaughter,
and commercial crimes (including burglary of
commercial establishments), while the NCVS excludes
those crime types.
• The UCR excludes sexual assault, which the
NCVS includes.4
• The UCR property-crime rates are per person, while the
NCVS's are per household. (There were 2.2 persons age
12 or older per household in 2019.) Moreover, because
the number of households may not grow at the same
rate each year as the total population, trend data for
rates of property crimes measured by the two programs
may not be entirely comparable.
320l9 UCR data had not been publicly released at the time this
report was published.
aSexual assault includes a range of victimizations and is separate
from rape or attempted rape. Sexual assault includes attacks or
threatened attacks involving unwanted sexual contact between
victim and offender. with or without force: grabbing or fondling:
and verbal threats.
TABLES
Rates of crime reported to police in the Uniform
Crime Reporting program and in the National Crime
Victimization Survey, 2018 and 2019
Rate per 1.000 persons
2018 UCR rate per
age 12 or older
Type of crime
1,000 residentsa
2018 NCVS 2019 NCVS
Violent crime exduding
simple assault
3.69
429
338
Murder
0.05
—
—
Rape/sexual assaultb
0.43
0.66
056
Robbery
0.86
130
0.90
Aggravated assault
2.47
2.32
1.92
2018 UCR rate per Rate per 1,000 households
1,000 residentsa
2018 NCVS 2019 NCVS
Property crime
21.99
3689
33.00
Burglary'
3.76
7.11
6.03
Motor-vehicle theft
2.29
336
3.12
Note: National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and Uniform Crime
Reporting (UCR) program crime rates are calculated differently.
UCR crime ratesare normally reported per 100.000 persons but were
recakulated for this report to align with the reporting of NCVS crime
rates. See appendix table 9 for standard errors.
-Not applicable.
alncludes crimes against populations not included in the NCVS: persons
age 11 or younger. persons who are homeless. persons whoare
institutionalized. and crimes against commercial establishments.
bThe NCVS estimate indudes sexual assault: the UCR does not.The UCR
estimate is based on its revised definition of rape. See Methodology for
details on the measurement of rape or sexual assault in the NCVS.
cThe UCR defines burglary as forcible entry. unlawful entry where no
force is used. or attempted forcibleentry of a structure to commit a
felony or theft. The NCVS defines burglary as the unlawful or forcible
entry or attempted entry of places. including a permanent residence.
other residence (e.g.. a hotel room or vacation residence), or other
structure (e.g.. a garage or shed). where there was a completed or
attempted theft. NCVS estimates differ from those previously published
in the Criminal Vkrimizotion. 2018 report because a coding error that
affected thegeneration of those earlier estimates has been corrected.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National CrimeVictimization Survey.
2018 and 2019. and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United
States. 2018. https://ucribi.gov/crime-in•the-u.s/20113/crime•in-the•
us.-2018/topictages/tablesitable.1.
Continued on next page
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION. 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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The Uniform Crime Reporting program and the National Crime Victimization
Survey together provide a complementary picture of crime in the U.S.
(continued)
■ NCVS estimates are based on interviews with a
nationally representative sample of persons in U.S.
households. UCR estimates are based on counts of
crimes recorded by law enforcement agencies and are
weighted to compensate for incomplete reporting.
■ The NCVS does not measure crimes against persons
who are homeless or who live in institutions (e.g.,
nursing homes and correctional institutions) or on
military bases. Also, it does not measure crimes against
children age 11 or younger. The UCR measures crimes
against all US. residents, including crimes against
children age 11 or younger. In some states mandatory
reporting laws require that persons report certain
crimes against youth. Due to these factors, the age
distribution of crimes measured in the UCR differs from
that of the NCVS.
Taken together, these two measures of crime provide
a more comprehensive picture of crime in the U.S. For
additional information about the differences between the
NCVS and UCR, see the Nation's Two Crime Measures
(NO 246832, IDS, September 2014).
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION. 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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About 2 out of 5 violent victimizations were reported
to police in 2019
The NCVS provides statistics on crimes reported and
not reported to police and on the reasons why a crime
was not reported to police. Victims may not report a
crime for a variety of reasons, including fear of reprisal
or getting the offender in trouble, believing that police
would not or could not do anything to help, and
believing the crime to be a personal issue or too trivial
to report. Reporting to police may occur during or
immediately following a criminal incident or at a later
date. Police may be notified by the victim, a third party
(including witnesses, other victims, household members,
or other officials, such as school officials or workplace
managers), or police may have been at the scene of the
incident.
Based on the 2019 survey, 41% of violent victimizations
were reported to police, which was not a statistically
significant change from 2018 (43%) (table 6). About a
third (33%) of property victimizations were reported to
police in 2019. There were some statistically significant
changes from 2018 to 2019 by type of crime reported to
police. The percentages of robbery (from 63% to 47%)
and other theft (from 29% to 27%) reported to police
declined during this period, while the percentage of
intimate partner violence reported to police increased,
from 45% to 58%.
TABLE 6
Percent and rate of victimizations reported to police, by type of crime, 2018 and 2019
Percent of victimizations reported to police
Rate of victIrrizatIons repotted to police per 1,000a
Type of alma
2018
201?
2018
2019.
14oknt cdmeb
42.6%
40.9%
9.9
8.6
Rape/sexual assaultc
24.9
33.9
0.7
0.6
Robbery
62.6 t
46.6
13
0.9
Assault
43.0
40.9
7.9
7.1
Aggravated assault
605
52.1
23
1.9
Simple assault
38.4
37.9
5.6
5.2
Violent crime excluding simple assaultd
49.9%
465%
43
3.4
Selected characteristics of violent cdme
Domestic violence
47.0%
52.2%
23
2.2
Intimate panne( violence
45.01
58.4
1.4
15
Stranger vidence9
445
39.9
4.0
33
Violent crime involving injury
54.3
49.5
29
23
Violent crime involving a weapon
60.3
52.4
29*
2.1
Property alme
34.1%
32.5%
369t
33.0
flurglaryArespassingh
46.6
48.5
9.9 t
83
Burglary,
475
51.4
7.1 $
6.0
Trespassingl
445
42.2
2.8
23
Motorvehide theft
78.6
79.5
3.4
3.1
Other theftk
28.6*
26.8
23.7 t
215
Note: Violent-crime categories include rape or sexual assault. robbery. aggravated assault, and simple assault. and they include threatened. attempted, and
completed occurrences of those crimes. Other violent-crime categories in this table. including domestic violence and violent crime involving injury. are not
mutually exclusive from these categories or from each other. See appendix table 10 for standard errors.
Comparison year.
}Difference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level
₹Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90% confidence level
agates are per 1.000 persons age 12 or older for violent crime reported to police and per 1.000 households for property crime reported to police. See
appendix table 34 for population numbers and appendix table 35 for number of households.
"Excludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is based on interviews with victims.
cSee Methodology for details on the measurement of rape or sexual assault in the NCVS.
dincludes rape or sexual assault. robbery. and aggravated assault: this category was called serious violent crime prior to Criminal Victimization. 2018.
elndudes the subset of violent victimization, that were committed by intimate partners or famiy members.
rIndudes the subset of domestic-violence victimization' that were committed by intimate partners. which include current or former spouses. boyfriends.
or sarlfriends.
glncludes the subset of violent victimization that were committed by someone unknown to the victim.
"Called household burglary prior to Criminal Victimization. 2018. Includes unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of places. Including a permanent
residence. other residence (eg..a hotel room or vacation residence). or other structure leg.. a garage or shed). but does not include trespassing on land.
'Includes only crimes where the offender committed or attempted a theft. Estimates cfiffer from those previously published in the Criminal Victimization,
2018 report because a coding error that affected the generation of those earlier estimates has been corrected.
lIncludes crimes where the offender did not commit or attempt a theft. Does not include trespassing on land. Etimates differ from those previously
published in the Criminal Victimization. 2018 report because a coding error that affected the generation of those earlier estimates has been corrected.
kIndudes the taking or attempted unlawful taking of property or cash without personal contact with the victim. Incidents involving theft of property
from within the same household would classify as theft if the offender has a legal right to be in the house (such as a maid. delivery person. or guestlif the
offender has no legal right to be in the house. the incident would classify as a burglary.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistks. National Crime Victimization survey.2018 and 2019.
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The rate of unreported violent crime increased from
2015 to 2019
From 2018 to 2019, there were no statistically significant
changes in the rate of reported or unreported violent
crime (whether completed, attempted, or threatened)
(table 7). While the rate of total violent crime (whether
completed, attempted, or threatened) reported to police
was 8.6 victimizations reported per 1,000 persons age 12
or older in both 2015 and 2019, the rate of unreported
violent crime increased from 9.5 per 1,000 persons in
2015 to 12.1 per 1,000 in 2019. During this same period,
the rate of both reported (from 2.2 per 1,000 to 3.1 per
1,000) and unreported (from 3.6 per 1,000 to 5.3 per
1,000) threatened crime increased.
Assistance from a victim-service agency was received
for 8% of violent victimizations
Victim-service agencies are public or private
organizations that provide help to victims. Based on the
2019 survey, assistance from a victim-service agency was
received in 8% of violent victimizations (table 8). This
was a decline from the percentage in 2018 (11%). The
percentage of violent victimizations committed by an
intimate partner for which victims received assistance
from a victim-service agency increased from 18% in 2018
to 26% in 2019.
TABLE 7
Rate of violent victimization reported and not reported to police, by completed, attempted, and threatened crimes,
2015-2019
Rate of reported crime per 1,000a
Rate of unreported crime per 1,000a
Violentcrine
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019'
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019'
Total
8.6
8.6
9.2
9.9
8.6
95t
10.8
10.9
12.9
12.1
Completed
33
25
2.8
33
25
2.6
2.6
2.6
3.5
22
Attempted
3.1
2.6
2.9
3.2
19
33
3.3
3.8
3.8
4.0
Threatened
2.2*
3.6
3.5
14
3.1
3.6t
4.9
45
5.6
53
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data. Vrolent•aime categories indude rape or sexual assault robbery. aggravated assault,
and simple assault. Each year between 2015 and 2019. whether the crime was reported to police or not was unknovm at a rate of 03 to 0.5 victimizations
per 1.000 persons age 12 or older. See appendix table I I for standard errors.
*Comparison year.
Difference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90% confidence level.
a
te is per 1.000 persons age 12 or older. See appendix table 34 (or population numbers.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2015-2019.
TABLES
Percent of violent victimizations for which victims received
assistance from a victim-service agency, by type of crime, 2018
and 2019
Type of aim.
2018
2019'
Violent crimes
10.6%1
7.7%
Violent crime exduding simple assaultb
122
10.8
Simple assault
9.4 t
6.0
Intimate partner violencec
18.1%*
26.1%
Violent crime involving injury
14.7%
17.9%
Violent crime involvinga weapon
11.2%
7.1%
Note: See appendix table 12 for standard errors.
*Comparison year.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 95%confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90%confvdence level.
%clucks rape or sexual assault. robbery. aggravated assault. and simple assault.
Includes threatened. attempted. and completed occurrences of those crimes. Excludes
homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey is based on interviews
with victims.
bincludes rape or sexual assault. robbery. and aggravated assault this category was
called serious violent crime prior to Criminal Victimization. 2078.
%dudes the subset of damestic•violencevictiminations that were committed by
intimate partners. which include current or former spouses. boyfriends. or girlfriends.
Source Bureau of Justice Statistic. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2018 and 2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 1 SEPTEMBER 2020
9
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Rates of violent victimization decreased across some
demographic characteristics from 2018 to 2019
From 2018 to 2019, the rate of violent victimization
decreased from 24.7 victimizations per 1,000 white
persons age 12 or older to 21.0 per 1,000 (table 9).
Among Asians, the rate of violent victimization declined
from 16.2 per 1,000 in 2018 to 7.5 per 1,000 in 2019.
During this same period, the rate of violent victimization
also decreased for persons ages 25 to 34 (from 31.8 to
25.0 victimizations per 1,000) and ages 35 to 49 from
(25.2 to 19.5 per 1,000). Among divorced persons, the
rate of violent victimization decreased from 39.1 per
1,000 in 2018 to 28.5 per 1,000 in 2019.
Among females, the rate of violent victimization
excluding simple assault decreased from 9.6
victimizations per 1,000 females age 12 or older in 2018
to 7.0 per 1,000 in 2019. From 2018 to 2019, the rate of
violent crime excluding simple assault also decreased for
persons ages 35 to 49 (from 9.8 to 6.7 victimizations per
1,000). For those living in households where income was
less than $25,000 a year, the rate decreased from 19.0 to
14.2 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older.
In the same period, the rate of violent crime excluding
simple assault for those living in households earning
more than $200,000 a year increased from 3.0 to 7.0
per 1,000.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
TABLE 9
Rate of violent victimization, by type of crime and
demographic characteristics of victims, 2018 and 2019
Violent victimization
Total violent
excludipg simple
Victim demographic
victimization
assault
characteristic
2018
2019•
2018
2019•
Toter
232
21.0
8.6 t
73
Sex
Male
221
21.2
75
73
Female
243
20.8
9.6 t
7.0
Race/ethnicity
Whited
24.7 t
21.0
8.2
65
Blacks
20A
18.7
10.0
7.0
Hispanic
18.6
21.3
8.5
10/
/Wand
162t
7.5
5.6t
19!
Otherte
49/
663
20.5
209
Age
12-17
34/
35.2
10.1
1113
18-24
35.9
37.2
16.3
1613
25-34
312*
25.0
11.3
89
3549
25/
19.5
9.8*
6.7
50-64
183
18.9
6.4
5.6
65 or older
65
6.0
2.3
19
Marital status
Never married
33.5
31.2
12.9
119
Married
121
11.5
4.1
313
WidowAvidower
125
10.7
4.3
49
Divorced
39.11
28.5
14.8
10.7
Separated
58.2
641
20.8
195
Household income
Less than $25000
40.8
37.8
19.0 t
14/
$25000549.999
23.5
19.7
9.3
73
$50,000-599.999
165
16.6
4.7
55
$100,000.5199.999
19/
16.2
5.8
39
$2001300 or more
163
18.0
3.0 t
7.0
Note Rates are per 1.000 persons age 12 or older. Includes threatened.
attempted. and completed occurrences of those crimes. See appendix
table 34 for population numbers and appendix table 13 for standard errors.
"Comparison year.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is signifxant at the 90%
confidence level.
!Interpret estimate with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample
cases or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
alncludes rape or sexual assault. robbery. aggravated assault. and simple
assault. Excludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization
Survey is based on interviews with victims.
bindudes rape or sexual assault. robbery. and aggravated assault this
category was called serious violent crime prior to Criminal
Victimization. 2018.
cstatistically significant differences for the total victimization rates are
presented using the Balanced Repeated Replication method. Generalized
variance function parameters were used to calculate statistically significant
differences (or the rest of the table.
dExcludes persons of Hispanic origin (eg.. "white' refers to non•Hispanic
whites and "black" refers to non-Hispanic blacks).
elncludes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. American Indians
and Alaska Natives. and persons of two or more races.
Source Bureau of Justice Statistic. National Crime Victimization Survey.
2018 and 2019.
10
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The percentage of violent victimizations reported to
police was higher for females than for males
Based on the 2019 survey, the percentage of violent
victimizations reported to police was higher for females
(46%) than for males (36%) (table 10). This difference
can largely be attributed to reporting of simple assaults,
as the percentages of violent victimizations reported
to police, exduding simple assault, were similar for
females (47%) and males (46%). The percentage of
violent victimizations reported to police was lower
for white persons (37%) than for black persons (49%)
and Hispanics (49%). Among different age groups, the
percentage of violent victimizations reported to police,
excluding simple assault, was lower for persons ages
18 to 24 (36%) than for persons ages 25 to 34 (60%),
50 to 64 (52%), or 65 or older (61%). The percentage
of violent crime reported to police was lower for those
who had never been married (35%) than for married
(45%), divorced (46%), or separated (62%) persons. The
percentage of violent victimizations reported to police,
excluding simple assault, was lowest for those living in
households earning more than $200,000 a year (13%).
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
TABLE 10
Percent and rate of violent victimizations reported to
police, by type of crime and demographic characteristics
of victims, 2019
Victim demographic
characteristic
Total
Sex
Male'
Female
Race/ethnicity
White'b
Blackb
Hispanic
Asianb
otheos
Age
12-17
18.24*
25-34
35.49
50-64
65 or older
Marital status
Never married'
Married
YndowAvidower
Divorced
Separated
Household income
Less than 525.000
$25.000549.999
$50.000499.999*
S100.000-5199999
5200.000 or more
Note Violent-crime categories include rape or sexual assault. robbery.
aggravated assault. and simple assault, and they indude threatened.
attempted. and completed occurrences of those crimes. See appendix
table 14 for standard errors.
"Comparison group.
tDifference with comparison group is significant at the 95%
confidence level.
*Difference with comparison group is significant at the 90%
confidence level.
!Interpret estimate with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample
cases or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
aRates are per 1.000 persons age 12 or older. See appendix table 34 for
population numbers.
bExcludes persons of Hispanic origin (e.g.. "white* refers to non•Hispanic
whites and "black" refers to non-Hispanic blacks).
cIncludes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. American Indians
and Alaska Natives. and persons of two or more races.
Source. Bureau of Justice Statistic. National Crime Victimization
Survey. 2019.
Total violent
victimizations
reported to policea
Rate per
Violent victimizations
reported to police,
excluding simple
assaulta
Rate per
Percent
1,00
Percent
1,000c
40.9%
8.6
46.5%
3.4
35.7%
75
46.4%
3.5
45.9 t
9.6
46.6
3.3
37.0%
7.8
46.9%
3.0
49.2 t
9.2
52.1
3.7
48.8 t
10.4
48.7
5.0 t
47.9
3.6t
42.9!
0.8 t !
39.8
26.4 t
27.3 t
5.7
24.0%1
8.4 t
37.4%
4.1
37.9
141
36.4
5.8
46.4
11.6
6021
5.3
44.4
8.6 t
422
2.8 t
47.11
89t
525t
2.9t
41.9
25t
61.01
34.8%
10.9
423%
5.0
45.4t
52t
49.8
1.5 t
47.3
5.0 t
63.9*
3.1
46.2 t
13.2
49.7
5.3
61.7t
39.61
60.9*
11.9*
41.8%
15.81
46.8%
6.6 t
44.7
8.8
57.4*
4.31
43.1
72
44.5
2.4
33.0*
53
43.1
1.7
29.5t
53
13.41
0.9t
11
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Classification of urban, suburban, and rural areas in the National Crime
Victimization Survey
By Jeffrey H. Anderson, Ph.D., BJS Director
This year, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) provides
new classifications of urban, suburban, and rural areas
for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), with
the goal of presenting a more accurate picture of where
criminal victimizations occur.
Historically, the NCVS has classified areas as urban,
suburban, or rural based on the following definitions:
■ Urban: within a principal city of a Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA)
■ Suburban: within an MSA but not within a principal city
of the MSA
■ Rural: outside of an MSA
These definitions are straightforward, but they suffer from
two main shortcomings:
1. Metropolitan statistical areas are based on entire
counties, and counties almost always contain both rural
and non-rural areas. Yet the NCVS's historical definitions
classify each county as being either entirely rural (if not
part of an MSA) or entirely non-rural (if part of an MSA).
For example, California's San Bernardino County, which
includes much of the Mojave Desert and covers more than
twice as much land as the state of Maryland, is classified
as containing no rural areas under the NCVS's historical
definitions. This is because San Bernardino County is part
of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA, and the
NCVS's historical definitions do not classify any part of an
MSA as being rural. On the other hand, Colorado's La Plata
County, home of Durango, is classified under the historical
definitions as being entirely rural, because it is not part of
an MSA. This is true even though the Census Bureau says
that, as of 2010, 40% of La Plata County's population lived
in non-rural areas.
Similarly, Casmalia, Calif. had a 2010 population of 138
people and is surrounded by undeveloped land. Because
it is located within a county (Santa Barbara) that is
designated as an MSA (the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
MSA), the NCVS's historical definitions classify Casmalia
as suburban. Meanwhile, Bozeman, Mont., with a 2010
population of 37,280-270 times that of Casmalia—is
classified by the NCVS's historical definitions as rural,
because it is located in a county that is not part of an MSA.
2. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
designates principal cities (of which there are anywhere
from 1 to nearly 20 in a given MSA) as being among
"the more significant places in each Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical Area...in terms of population
and employment:The principal city designation is not
necessarily indicative of urban status, nor is it intended
to be. Yet the NCVS's historical definitions classify all
principal cities of MSAs as urban, and all other places as
not urban.
As a result, Union City, NJ., located just across the
Hudson River from Midtown Manhattan, is classified by
the NCVS's historical definitions as suburban, due to its
not being defined as a principal city. Union City had a
2010 population density of 51,918 people per square
mile, more than three times the population density of
San Francisco (17,180). Meanwhile, Rome, N.Y., which
had a 2010 population density of 451 people per square
mile—less than 1% that of Union Crty—is classified by the
historical definitions as urban.The same is true for Yuma.
Ariz., Hilton Head Island, S.C., and Foley, Ala. None of
these had a population density in 2010 that was even 2%
that of Union City, yet all are classified as urban under the
NCVS's historical definitions, while Union City is classified
as suburban.
These are not isolated examples. Weighted housing-unit
density (discussed more below) is essentially a measure
of how closely people live to one another. Based on the
2010 Census of Population and Housing and 2013 OMB
principal-city designations, 506 of the 674 principal cities
in the United States (75%) had weighted housing-unit
densities below that of the U.S. as a whole. In other words
three-quarters of the places classified by the historical
definitions as urban were less densely developed than the
areas where most U.S. residents lived.
A new definition:
BJS's new NCVS definition of urban is based on the notion
that urban places are those that are densely populated,
are at the center of a major metropolitan area, or some
combination of these. BJS's specific criteria is that a place
is urban if it is—
■ The main city or Census-designated place (i.e., the first
place listed) in a 500,000-person (Census-designated)
"urbanized area," with a weighted housing-unit density
within its city limits of at least 3,000 housing units
per square mile. In other words, the primary city in a
large "urbanized area" qualifies as urban if it meets
the weighted-housing-unit-density threshold of 3,000
housing units per square mile. (The overall weighted
housing-unit density for the U.S. is 2,396, based on the
2010 Census.)
■ A named city or Census-designated place in a
500,000-person (Census-designated) "urbanized area:'
with a weighted housing-unit density of at least 4,000
housing units per square mile within its city limits. In
Continued on next page
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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Classification of urban, suburban, and rural areas in the National Crime
Victimization Survey (continued)
other words, a city that is prominent enough to be
included by the Census Bureau in the name of a large
"urbanized area" (for example, Long Beach in the Los
Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim urbanized area) qualifies
as urban if it meets the weighted•housing-unit-density
threshold of 4,000 housing units per square mile.
■ Any city or Census-designated place with a population
of at least 50,000 and a weighted housing-unit density
of at least 5,000 housing units per square mile.
■ Any city or Census-designated place with a population
of at least 10,000 and a weighted housing-unit density
of at least 10,000 housing units per square mile.
The Census Bureau's "urbanized areas" referenced in
this definition are similar to OMB's metropolitan areas,
but they delineate areas of substantial population rather
than utilizing entire counties. The weighted housing-unit
density referenced in this definition is discussed in greater
detail below.
In addition to developing this definition of urban, BJS has
adopted the Census Bureau's definition of rural to replace
the historical NCVS definition of ruralThe Census Bureau
provides specific, carefully drawn boundaries around
"urban areas" (both larger "urbanized areas" and smaller
"urban clusters") using set criteria, classifying everything
outside of those boundaries as rural.
BJS classifies areas that are neither urban nor rural
as suburban. In comparison to places that are urban,
suburban areas are characterized by lower density, a
larger ratio of single-family homes to apartments, and
layouts based principally on automobile transportation.
Some suburban areas, those that might be thought
of as "suburbia proper: do not have their own urban
centers but are located near a separate urban city. Other
suburban areas are cities or towns that have urban
centers, but those centers have smaller populations than
their surrounding suburban areas, so the bulk of the city's
population lives in suburban areas. (Cities are the smallest
geographical designations that can realistically be used
in classifying areas as urban.) In short, suburban areas are
a mix of "suburbia proper: towns, and some generally
smaller cities that are more suburban than urban.
BJS uses weighted housing-unit density in its new
NCVS definitions because that measure provides a
better indication of the degree of urban density than
conventional population density does. Conventional
population density is derived by dividing population by
land area, and it measures how densely populated a given
area of land is. As of the 2010 Census, the U.S. as a whole
had a conventional population density of 87 people per
square mile; however, most U.S. residents do not live in
areas where there are only 87 people per square mile.The
experience of most U.S. residents is more fully captured
by weighted population density, which is essentially a
measure of how densely populated an area is from the
perspective of those who live in it.
Weighted housing-unit density is similar to weighted
population density, with the difference being that the
latter focuses on population and the former on housing
units. In comparing weighted housing-unit density to
weighted population density, John R. Ottensmann writes.
"Housing units better represent the physical pattern of
urban development, as they are relatively fixed."5
Housing-unit density is the number of housing units
per square mile in a given area. Weighted housing-unit
density, under BJS's approach, is the weighted average of
the housing densities for all census tracts in an area, with
the tracts weighted by their number of housing units.
For ease of explanation, imagine an area with only two
census tracts. One tract has 2,000 housing units, covers
2 square miles, and thus has a housing-unit density of
1,000 housing units per square mile. The other tract has
6,000 housing units, covers 1 square mile, and thus has
a housing-unit density of 6,000 housing units per square
mile.The area's weighted housing-unit density is the
weighted average of these two tract-level housing-unit
densities, or (1,000"2,000+6,000"6,000)/8,000 = 4,750.
Otherwise put, the weighted housing-unit density is
based one-quarter on the first tract's density (because
it contains one-quarter of the housing units) and three-
quarters on the second tract's density.
Weighted housing-unit density identifies urban places
much more clearly than conventional population density
does. Among places with populations of at least 10,000
people in 2010, Chicago rises from #71 in conventional
population density to 416 in weighted housing-unit
density, New Orleans from #2,212 to #190, and Urban
Honolulu from #474 to #13. Meanwhile, Passaic, NJ. falls
from #7 in conventional population density to #45 in
weighted housing-unit density, while Santa Ma, Calif. falls
from #67 to #237 (moving from 4 places above Chicago to
221 places below).
Comparing the old and new definitions:
Both the old and new NCVS definitions, as would be
expected, classify New York's five boroughs as urban (New
York City's weighted housing-unit density is a nation-
leading 29,345 housing units per square mile), and they
both add Jersey City, NJ. (weighted housing-unit density
Shahn R. Ottensmann. "On Population-Weighted
Density" February 2018. hnps://www.researchgate.nett
publication/322992771_On_Population-Weighted_Density.
Continued on next page
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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Classification of urban, suburban, and rural areas in the National Crime
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of 13,837 housing units per square mile), Newark, NJ.
(8,788), and White Plains, N.Y. (5,671). The old definition
also includes New Brunswick, NJ. (4,908) and Lakewood,
NJ. (2,106).
The new definition reclassifies Lakewood and New
Brunswick as suburban (although just a 2% increase in
New Brunswick's weighted housing-unit density would
qualify it as urban) and adds the following places as
urban: Guttenberg, NJ. (weighted housing-unit density
of 29.171 housing units per square mile); Hoboken, NJ.
FIGURE 4
Washington, D.C. MSA, by old and new classification
Old classification
New classification
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey.
2019: and 2010 Census of Population and Housing and 2013 OMB
Metropolitan Statistical Area designations.
(25,870); West New York (21,763); Union City, NJ. (20,477):
Cliffside Park. NJ. (12,001); Mount Vernon, N.Y. (8,811);
East Orange, NJ. (8,763); Bayonne, NJ. (8,263); Yonkers.
N.Y. (7,930); Elizabeth, NJ. (7,468); Passaic, NJ. (7.424): and
Paterson, NJ. (6,739).
As the accompanying map of the Washington, D.C.
area (figure 4) shows, both the old and new definitions
include Washington, D.C. (weighted housing-unit density
of 10,115 housing units per square mile), Arlington,
Va. (10,485), Alexandria, Va. (7,714), and Silver Spring,
Md. (6,135), as urban places.The new definitions do
not classify anywhere else in the D.C. area as urban.The
old definitions added as urban Bethesda, Md. (4,325),
Gaithersburg, Md. (2,836), Reston, Va. (2.543), Rockville,
Md. (2,534), and Frederick. Md. (2,235), all of which the
new definitions classify as suburban.
The new definitions more closely fit U.S. residents' own
sense of where they live, as reflected in the American
Housing Survey (AHS). For each of five metropolitan or
micropolitan area designations, the following table and
figure show how most AHS respondents in 2017 classified
where they lived (and what percentage of respondents
gave that classification), what percentage of people would
be classified that same way by the new and old NCVS
definitions, and the difference between the AHS result
and the new and old NCVS results (table 11, figure 5).
As table 11 shows, 58% of AHS respondents who lived
in the biggest principal city of an MSA said that they
lived in an urban place. Forty-three percent of them
would be classified as living in an urban place by the new
NCVS definitions, a difference of 15 percentage points
(58% versus 43%) from the portion of AHS respondents
who gave that answer. In comparison, 100% of those
TABLE 11
U.S. residents' sense of where they live, per the American Housing Survey
Percent classified same way as
Most common
classification by
most common AHS classification
Difference (in percentage points)
New NCVS
Old NCVS
Part of MSPJmiao area lived in
MIS respondentsa
definitions
definitions
Newl4CVS vs. AHS Old NCVSYLAHS
Biggest principal city of MSA
58% urban
43%
100%
15
42
Other principal city ofMSA
67% suburban
88
0
21
67
In MSA but not principal city
64% suburban
79
100
15
36
In mictopolitan area
52% rural
48
100
4
48
Outside of metro/micro area
70% rural
75
100
5
30
Average
-
12
45
aAmerican Housing Survey.
-Not applicable.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National CrimeVictimization Survey. 2019, 2010 Census of Population and Housing and 2013 OMB Metropolitan
Statistical Area designations: and US. Department of Housing and Urban Development American Housing Survey. 2017.
Continued on next page
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
14
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EFIA_00001560
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Classification of urban, suburban, and rural areas in the National Crime
Victimization Survey (continued)
respondents would be classified as living in an urban
place by the old NCVS definitions, a difference of 42
percentage points (58% vs. 10096) from the portion of
AHS respondents who gave that answer. While AHS
respondents' answers about where they live are not
necessarily dispositive, the new NCVS definitions fare far
better than the old ones versus the AHS in every category,
by a margin of at least 21 percentage points per category
and an average margin of 33 points per category.
Under the new definitions. 12% of the population lives
in urban areas, 69% in suburban areas, and 1996 in rural
areas, compared to 33% in urban areas, 53% in suburban
areas, and 14% in rural areas under the old definitions
(table 31).0f the main cities in the 15 largest MSAs in
the U.S., the new definitions classify 13 as urban.The two
classified as suburban—Phoenix, Ariz. and Riverside,
Calif.—had 2010 weighted housing-unit densities below
that of the U.S. as a whole.
According to the historical NCVS definitions, by far the
most urban region in the country is the West, followed
by the South (using the Census Bureau's regional
classifications). Under the new definitions, the Northeast
is by far the most urban region, followed in order by the
West, Midwest, and South. The most suburban region
according to the old definitions is the Northeast Under
the new definitions, the West is the most suburban region.
with the Northeast being the least suburban region.
A complete list of places classified as urban under the new
NCVS definitions is provided at the back of this report
(appendix table 36).
FIGURE 5
Location-of-residence classification, by source of classification
Percent
leo
30
60
40
JO
0
1C0
80
60
40
JO
l00
30
60
40
10
0
American Housing Survey respondent dassification
Rig gest principal city of ?ASA
Other principal city of MSA
■ Urban
■ Suburban
■ Rural 1
InMSAbut not principal city
In micropolitan area
Outside of metro/micro ere
New NCVS definitions
Riggest principal city oft.S
Other principal city of /ASA
In MSA but not principal city
In micropolitan area
Outside of met romtcru sc
Old NCVS definitions
Biggest principal Glyn( ?ASA
Other principal city of MSA
InMSAbut not principal dry
In micropolitan area
Outside of metro/rmuo area
Note See appendix table 4 for estimates.
Source:Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2019: US. Department of Housing and Urban Development. American
Housing Survey. 2017: and 2010 Censusof Population and Housing and 2013 OMB Metropolitan Statistical Area designations.
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The rate of violent victimization in urban areas,
based on the new classifications of urban, suburban,
and rural areas, declined from 2018 to 2019
From 2018 to 2019, the rate of violent victimization in
urban areas declined from 26.5 victimizations per 1,000
persons age 12 or older to 21.1 per 1,000 (table 12) based
on the NCVS's new classifications of urban, suburban,
and rural areas (see text box on pp. 12-15). Excluding
simple assault, the rate of violent victimization in urban
areas fell from 12.2 victimizations per 1,000 persons age
12 or older in 2018 to 8.0 per 1,000 in 2019. There were
no statistically significant changes in the rates of violent
victimization, or of violent victimization excluding
simple assault, in suburban or rural areas from 2018
to 2019. The rate of property victimization, however,
declined from 2018 to 2019 in both suburban (from
108.6 to 100.8 victimizations per 1.000 households) and
rural (from 80.3 to 68.1 per IMO) areas. There was no
statistically significant change in the rate of property
crime in urban areas.
Based on the new definitions, the 2019 rate of violent
victimization in urban areas (21.1 per 1,000 persons
age 12 or older) and suburban areas (22.3 per 1,000)
was higher than the rate in rural areas (16.3 per
1,000). There was no statistically significant difference
between the rates of violent victimization in urban and
suburban areas, and there were no statistically significant
differences in the rates of violent victimization excluding
simple assault across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
The rate of property victimization in urban areas
(153.0 per 1,000 households) was higher than the rate
in suburban (100.8 per 1,000) and rural areas (68.1 per
1,000). The rate of property victimization in suburban
areas was also higher than the rate in rural areas.
TABLE 12
Rate of victimization, by type of crime and location of residence, 2018 and 2019
Rate per 1,000a
Violent ctimeexduding
Violent cumeb
simple assault'
Propertycrimed
location of residences
2018
2019°
2018
2019'
2018
2019'
New definition
ilibanf
26.5*
21.1
122f
8.0
146.9
153.0
Suburbang
23.8
22.3
8.6
7.6
108.6*
1008
Ruralh
18.9
16.3
6.3
5.6
803t
68.1
Old definition
Urban'
28.9
26.0
12.2
9.5
1429
144.4
Suburban/
18.6
165
6.1
5.7
86.71
74.9
Ruralk
26.9
26.3
9.6
7.7
101.7$
92.1
Note: Statistically significant differences for the new definition rates are presented wing the Balanced Repeated
Replication method of direct estimation. Statistically significant differences for the old definition rates are presented
using generalized variance function parameters. See appendix table IS for standard errors.
'Comparison year.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90%confidence level.
abate is per 1.000 persons age 12 or older for violent crime and per 1.000 households for property crime. See table
31 for populations.
blncludes rape or sexual assault. robbery. aggravated assault. and simple assault. Excludes homicide because the
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is based on interviews with victims.
%dudes rape or sexual assault. robbery. and aggravated assault: this category was called serious violent crime prior
to Criminal Victimization. 20 f 8.
dlncludes burglary. residential trespassing. motor-vehicle theft. and other theft.
eke Classification of <Ann.suburban, and rural areas in the National CrimeVktimizolion Survey on pp. 12-I S and
Methodology for details on the measurement of location of residence in the NCVS.
fAll census blocks within cities or Census•designated places that meet certain criteria based on their population
and density. See Classification of urban, suburban, and rural areas in the National Crime Victimization Survey on
pp. 12-IS and appendix table 36.
gAll other census blocks not classified as urban or rural.
bAll census blocks not in Census Bureau•defined urbanized areas or urban clusters.
!Within the principal city of a Metropolitan Statistical Area IMSA).
Within an MSA but not in a principal city of the MSA.
kNot within an MSA.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistic. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2018 and 2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
16
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EFIA_00001562
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Demographic characteristic
Total
Sex
Male
Female
Both male and female offenders
Racetethnidty
White'
Blackc
Hispanics
Asianc
Other('
Muhipk offenders of various racesc
Age
11 or youngerf
12-17
18.29
30 or older
Multiple offenders of various ages
Incidents estimates
An incident is a specific criminal act involving one or
more victims.° In 2019, there were 5.4 million total
violent incidents involving victims age 12 or older
(table 13).
Patterns varied in the demographic characteristics of
victims and offenders involved in violent incidents, as
perceived by the victims. Based on the 2019 survey, the
victim-to-population ratio of 1.0 for both males and
females shows that the percentage of violent incidents
involving male (49%) or female (51%) victims was
equal to males' (49%) or females (51%) share of the
&Tables 13 through 17 present incident-level data on victims and
offenders. Offender characteristics in the NCVS are based on victims
perceptions of offenders.
population. The offender-to-population ratio shows
that the percentage of violent incidents involving male
offenders (75%) was about 1.5 times greater than the
percentage of males represented in the population (49%),
whereas the percentage of violent incidents involving
female offenders (21%) was 0.4 times the percentage of
females in the population (51%).
The victim-to-population ratio varied by race. The
percentage of violent incidents involving white (62%)
or black (11%) victims was similar to the population
percentages of white (62%) or black (12%) persons.
Likewise, about 17% of violent incidents involved
Hispanic victims, which was equal to the representation
of Hispanics in the population (17%). A smaller
percentage of violent incidents involved Asian victims
(2%) than the share of Asians in the population (6%).
TABLE 13
Percent and number of violent incidents, by total population
Number of
violent incidents
Population' Offenderb Victim
276.872,470 5,440,680 5,440,680
100%
100%
100%
1.0
1.0
1.0
134.691660 3,806,570 2,668,600
48.6%
75.0%1
49.0%
15
15
1.0
142.178.810 1,085,550 2,772,070
51.4
21.4t
51.0
OA
OA
1.0
182,030
-
3.6
-
171,423.480 2,289,390 3,379,920
61.9%
50.2%t
62.1%
0.8
0.8
1.0
33,397.100 1,140,470
582,650
1/1
25.0 t
10.7
23
2.1
0.9
47,890.870
853,990
926,650
173
18.7
17.0
1.1
1.1
1.0
17,401.410
44,520
123,400
63
1.0 t
2.3 t
0.4
0.2
0.4
6,759.600
208.170
428,050
24
4.6t
7.9t
0.6
1.9
3.2
27.720!
-
0.6!
-
-
-
94,230
2.0%
-
-
-
-
24,941.440
723,630
800,300
9.0%
15.6t
14.7%t
1.1
1.7
1.6
52,798,870 1,348,610 1,617,860
19.1
29.0 t
29.7 t
1.0
1.5
1.6
199,132,160 2,323,940 3,022,520
71.9
50.0 t
55.61
0.9
0.7
0.8
-
157390
3A
-
-
-
-
and victim and offender demographic characteristics, 2019
Percent of
population"
Percent of
violent incidents
Offenderb
Victim
Ratio of percentages
Offender Offender to Victim to
to victim population poptdation
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data for offender characteristic. An incident is a specific criminal act involving one or more
victims. Offender characteristics are based on victims' perceptions of offenders. See appendix table 16 for standard errors.
'Comparison group.
tOifference with comparison group is significant at the %%confidence level.
!Interpret with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample cases. or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
—Not applicable.
aThe National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) population represents persons age 12 or older living in non-institutionartzed residential settings in the US.
bincludes those incidents in which the perceived offender characteristics were reported.The sex of the offender was unknown in 7% of incidents. the
race or ethnicity of the offender was unknown in 16% of incidents. and the age of the offender was unknown in 15% of incidents.
cExdudes persons of Hispanic origin le.g.."white" refers to non-Hispanic whites and 'black* refers to non-Hispanic blacks).
dIf the victim perceived any of the offenders in a multiple offender incident to be of Hispanic origin. they are classified as Hispanic.
elncludes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. American Indians and Alaska Natives. and persons of two or more races.
(While the NCVS does not survey victims age II or younger. victims may report the offender to be age 11 or younger.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
17
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Based on victims perceptions of the offenders, the
offender-to-population ratio shows that the percentage
of violent incidents involving black offenders (25%) was
2.1 times the percentage of black persons (12%) in the
population. The percentage of violent incidents involving
white offenders (50%) was about four-fifths (0.8 times)
the percentage of whites (62%) in the population,
while the percentage of violent incidents involving
Hispanic offenders (19%) was similar to the percentage
of Hispanics in the population (17%). The percentage
of violent incidents involving Asian offenders (1%) was
about one-fifth (0.2 times) the percentage of Asians in
the population (6%). The percentage of violent incidents
involving offenders of other races (Native Hawaiians and
Other Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska
Natives, and persons of two or more races) was about
double (1.9 times) the collective percentage of those races
in the population.
The offender-to-victim ratio shows that the percentage
of violent incidents involving black offenders (25%)
was over twice (2.3 times) the percentage of incidents
committed against black victims (11%). In contrast, the
percentage of incidents involving white offenders (50%)
was four-fifths (0.8 times) the percentage of incidents
committed against white victims (62%), while the
percentage involving Asian offenders was two-fifths (0.4
times) the percentage committed against Asian victims.
Persons ages 12 to 17 were more than 1.5 times more
likely to be offenders (16%) or victims (15%) in violent
incidents than their percentage of the population (9%).
Those between the ages of IS to 29 showed a similar
pattern. Those age 30 or older were less likely to be
offenders (50%) or victims (56%) than their percentage
of the population (72%).
Females were offenders in a greater percentage of violent
incidents committed against females (28%) than against
males (14%) (table 14). Males were offenders in a greater
percentage of violent incidents committed against males
(82%) than against females (69%).
Based on victims' perceptions, about 1.7 million violent
incidents in 2019 were committed against white persons
by offenders who were white, 346,260 violent incidents
were committed against black persons by offenders
who were black, and 334,600 violent incidents were
committed against Hispanic persons by offenders who
were Hispanic (table 15). There were 5.3 times as many
TABLE 14
Percent of violent incidents, by victim and offender
sex, 2019
Number of
Offender sex
Both male
Victim sex
violent incidents
Total
Male
Female and female
Total
5,074,160
100%
75.0%t 21.4%t
3.6%
Male'
2.410,380
100%
82.1
143
33
Female
2.663,770
100%
68.6 t
27.7 t
3.7
Note Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. An incident is a
specific criminal act involving one or more victims. Offender sex is based
on victims' perceptions of o&nders. Includes those incidents in which
the perceived sex of the offender was reported.The sex of the offender
was unknown in 7% of incidents. which is why the number of incidents
reported here is only 93%as high as in table 13. See appendix table 17 for
standard errors.
'Comparison group.
tDifference with comparison group is significant at the 95%
confidence level.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics.National Crime Victimization Survey,2019.
TABLE 15
Number of violent incidents, by victim and offender race or ethnicity, 2019
Number of
Offender raceiethnkity
Victim race/ethnicity
violent incidents
Whit&
Morita
HIspankb
Other"
Whiten
2,796,710
1,722,230'
472570t
463,520t
138,380t
[pada
494,610
89,980 t
346,260'
43,730t
14,640 t!
Hispanic
774.310
170,840 t
249.030
334,600'
19.840 t
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. An incident is a specific criminal act involving one or more victims. Offender race or ethnicity is based
on victims' perceptions of offenders. Indudes those violent incidents in which the perceived offender race or ethnicity was reported.Offender race or
ethnicity was unknown in 16% of violent incidents. which is why the number of incidents reported here is only 84%as high as in table 13. See appendix
table 18 for standard errors.
'Comparison groups are intraracial victim and offender percentages (white-on•vAsite. black•on.bladc. and Hispanic•on-Hispanicl.
tDifference with comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
!Interpret with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample cases. or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%
aExdudes persons of Hispanic origin leg-"white" refers to nonitispanic whites ancrbladc"refers to non•Hispanic blacks).
blf the victim perceived any of the offenders in a multiple offender incident to be of Hispanic origin. they are dassified asHispanic.
qncludes Asians. NativeHawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.Amerkan Indians and Alaska Natives. persons of two or more races.and multiple offenders of
various races.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistic. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
18
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EFIA_00001564
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violent incidents committed by black offenders against
white victims (472,570) as were committed by white
offenders against black victims (89,980).
The largest percentage of violent incidents committed
against white, black, and Hispanic victims were
committed by someone of the same race or ethnicity
(table 16). Offenders were white in 62% of violent
incidents committed against white victims, black in
70% of incidents committed against black victims, and
Hispanic in 43% of incidents committed against
Hispanic victims.
Sixty-two percent of violent incidents committed against
white victims were perceived to be committed by white
offenders, the same portion (62%) of the total U.S.
population age 12 or older that was white (table 17).
Among black victims, the percentage of violent incidents
perceived to be committed by black offenders (70%) was
5.8 times higher than the percentage of black persons in
the population (12%). The percentage of violent incidents
committed against Hispanic victims by Hispanic
offenders (43%) was 2.5 times higher than the percentage
of Hispanics in the population (17%).
TABLE 16
Percent of violent incidents, by victim and offender race or ethnicity, 2019
Victim race/
ethnicity
Number of
violent incidents
Offender race/ethnicity
Total
white
Black.
Hispanle
Otherm
Whit?
2.796.710
100%
61.694*
16.9%t
16.6%t
4.9%t
Blacka
494610
103%
18.2 t
70.0"
to t
3.0 t!
Hispanic
774310
103%
22.1 t
32.2 t
43.2*
2.6 t
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. An incident is a specific criminal act involving one or more victims. Offender race or ethnicity is
based on victims' perceptionsof offenders. Includes those violent incidents in which the perceived offender race or ethnicity vras reported. Offender
race or ethnicity was unknown in 16% of violent incidents, which is why the number of incidents reported here is only 84%as high as in table 13. See
appendix table 19 for standard errors.
'Comparison groups are intramcial victim and offender percentages (white-on-white, black.on•bladc, and Hispanic•on-Hispanic).
tDifferencewith comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
*Difference with comparison group is significant at the 90% confidence level.
!Interpret with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample cases. or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%
aExdudes persons of Hispanic origin (e.g.. "vAite" refers to non•Hispanic whites and "black' refers to non-Hispanic blacks).
blf the victim perceived any of the offenders in a multiple offender incident to be of Hispanic origin. they are classified as Hispanic.
cindudes Asians. Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. American Indians and Alaska Natives. persons of two or more races. and multiple offenders
of various races.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2019.
TABLE 17
Percent of violent incidents and percent of the U.S. population, by victim and offender race or ethnicity, 2019
Ratio of percentages
Percent
committed
of violent incidents
by offenders
Percent of the populationa
Victim race/
Of the same
Of another
Of the same
Of another
ethnicity
Total
race/ethnicity race/ethnicity
Total
race/ethnicity" race/ethnicity
Whited
100%
61.6%
384%
100%
61.9%
38.1%
100%
70.01
30.0t
100%
12.1
87.9
H
Blac
ispakdnic
100%
43.2t
56.8t
100%
17.3
82.7
Offender of same
race/ethnicity to
population of same
racelethnicityb
1.0
5b
03
23
0.7
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. An incident is a specific criminal act involving one or more victims. Offender race or ethnicity is based
on victims perceptions of offenders. Includes those violent incidents in which the perceived offender race or ethnicity was reported. Offender race or
ethnicity was unknown in 16% of violent incidents. See appendix table 20 for standard errors.
'Comparisons are between the percentage of the U5. population of the same race or ethnicity and the percentage of violent incidents committed by
offenders of the same race or ethnicity. and between the percentage of the U.S. population of another race or ethnicity and the percentage of violent
incidents committed by offenders of another race or ethnicity.
tDifferencewith comparison group is significant at the 95% confidence level.
ache National Crime Victimization Survey population represents persons age 12 or older living in non-institutionalized residential settings in the U.S.
bTbe percentage of incidents committed by offenders of the same race or ethnicity of the victim divided by the percentage of the U.S. population of the
same raceor ethnicity.
cllw percentage of incidents committed by offenders of another race or ethnicity divided by the percentage of the U.S. population of another
race or ethnicity.
dExcludes persons of Hispanic origin (e.g.. "white' refers to non•Hispanic vAites and 'black's refers to non-Hispanic blacks).
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2019.
Offender of another
race/ethnicity to
population of another
race/ethnicity
1.0
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION. 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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Prevalence estimates
The percentage of persons who experienced violent
crime excluding simple assault declined from 2018
to 2019
Prevalence reflects the number or percentage of
unique persons who were crime victims, or of unique
households that experienced crime. Based on the 2019
survey, 1.10% of all persons age 12 or older experienced
one or more violent victimizations, which was not a
statistically significant change from the percentage
in 2018 (1.18%) but was higher than in 2015 (0.98%)
(table 18). The percentage of persons who experienced
rape or sexual assault declined from 0.13% in 2018 to
0.08% in 2019, but there was not a statistically significant
change in the percentage of persons who experienced
robbery, aggravated assault, or simple assault.
After increasing 22% from 2015 (0.41%) to 2018 (0.50%),
the percentage of U.S. residents age 12 or older who
were victims of violent crime excluding simple assault
decreased 12% (to 0.44%) in 2019. The number of
victims of violent crime excluding simple assault fell
from 1.4 million in 2018 to 1.2 million persons age 12 or
older in 2019. This was largely driven by a decrease in the
number of victims of rape or sexual assault.
Prevalence rates declined from 2018 to 2019 for selected
characteristics of violent crime. The percentage of
persons who were victims of domestic violence declined
(from 0.23% to 0.19%), as did the percentage of persons
who experienced violent crime involving injury (from
0.31% to 0.27%).
TABLE 18
Number and percent of persons who were victims of violent crime, by type
Number of victimsa
of crime, 2015-2019
Percent of personsb
Type of crime
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019.
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019.
Total violent crime
2,650,670t
2,882320
3,106340
3254250
3,059,060
0.98%t
1.06%
1.14%
1.18%
1.10%
Rape/sexual assaultd
204,000
162,940
208.960
347,090 t
212,230
0.08
0.06
0.08
0.13 t
0.08
Robbery
375280
312,310
402.430
363,210
337,720
0.14
0.11
0.15
0.13
0.12
Assault
2,175,520 t
2,497,500
2,595.780
2468,820
2.586,170
0.81 t
0.92
0.95
0.97
0.93
Aggravated assault
560120 t
680,770
646.540
694,260
697,190
0.21*
0.25
024
0/5
025
Simple assault
1,690.190 t
1,903,860
2,024.880
2.058,870
1.965,410
0.63*
0.70
0.74
0.75
0.71
Violent crime excluding
simple assaulte
1,099.400
1,123,190
1,225,800
1367,270*
1.216,400
0.41%
0.41%
0.45%
0.5096*
0.44%
Selected characteristics
of violent crime
Domestic violence'
493310
514,350
559.820
636,540t
521,870
0.18%
0.19%
021%
023%t
0.19%
Intimatepartner
violence]
310,090
273,890
308.560
368,980
310,320
0.12
0.10
0.11
0.13
0.11
Stranger violenceh
1,117340t
1276,710
1,370.020
1.411,500
1393,650
0.41t
0:17
0.50
0.51
0.50
Violent crime involving
injury
778300
663,920
722.560
841,280
735,430
0.29
024
027
0.31 *
027
Violent crime involving
a weapon
644370 t
767,320
776.770
838,630
788,920
0.24 *
028
0.29
030
028
Note Details may not sum to totals because a person may experience multiple types of crime Violent•crime categories include rape or sexual assault.
robbery. aggravated assault. and simple assault. and they include threatened. attempted. and completed occurrences of those crimes. Other violent•crime
categories in this table. including domestic violence and violent crime involving injury. are not mutually exclusive from these categories or from each other.
See appendix table 34 for population numbers and appendix table 21 for standard errors.
'Comparison year.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 95%confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90%confidence level.
aNumber of persons age 12 or older who experienced at least one violent victimization during the year.
bPercentage of persons age 12 or older who experienced at least one violent victimization during the year.
cExcludes homicide because the National Crime Victimization Survey is based on interviews with victims.
dSee Methodology for details on the measurement of rape or sexual assault in the NCVS.
elncludes rape or sexual assault. robbery. and aggravated assault: this category was called serious violent crime prior to Criminal Vicanization. 2018.
'Includes the subset of violent victimization that were committed by intimate partners or family members.
glncludes the subset of domestic-violence victimizations that were committed by intimate partners. which include current or former spouses. boyfriends.
or girlfriends.
hlncludes the subset of violent victimizations that were committed by someone unknown to the victim.
Source Bureau of Justice Statistic, National CrimeVictimization Survey, 2015.2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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Between 2018 and 2019, the number of white or
Asian violent-crime victims decreased, and the
number of Hispanic victims increased
Based on the 2019 survey, an estimated 1.17% of males
(1.6 million) and 1.04% of females (1.5 million) were the
victim of at least one violent crime (table 19). Prevalence
rates decreased for some demographic groups from 2018
to 2019. The percentage of females who were victims of
violent crime decreased from 1.16% in 2018 to 1.04%
in 2019. The percentage of whites who were victims
decreased from 1.19% in 2018 to 1.07% in 2019, and the
percentage of Asians who were victims declined from
0.67% to 0.42% during this time period. From 2018 to
2019, the prevalence of violent victimization declined
for persons ages 35 to 49 (from 1.27% to 1.06%). The
prevalence of violent victimization also decreased among
persons who were divorced (from 1.81% to 1.54%) or
were widows or widowers (from 0.93% to 0.60%).
From 2018 to 2019, the portion of Hispanic persons
who were victims of violent crime increased from 1.05%
to 1.28%. There were no other statistically significant
increases in the prevalence of violent victimization by
demographic groups from 2018 to 2019.
The percentage and number of households that
experienced property crime decreased from 2018
to 2019
The 2019 survey found that 6.76% of all households
(8.5 million) experienced one or more property
victimizations, down from 7.27% (9.1 million) in 2018
(table 20). This decline was driven in part by a decrease
in the rate of burglary. The percentage of households
experiencing burglary decreased from 1.07% in 2018
to 0.82% in 2019, a decline of 23%. The prevalence of
motor-vehicle theft remained relatively stable from 2018
to 2019.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
TABLE 19
Number and percent of persons who were victims of
violent crime, by demographic characteristics of victims,
2018 and 2019
Victim
demographic
Number of vgnmsa
Percent of persons')
characteristic
2018
2018
2019'
2019°
Total
3254,250
3.059.060
1.18%
1.10%
Sex
Male
1,615,610
1.579.530
1.21%
1.17%
Female
1,638,640* 1.479540
1.161
1.04
Racelethnidty
Whites
2047,6401 1,836520
1.19%1
1.07%
Black<
416,850
367,030
1.26
1.10
Hispanic
493,520*
610,690
1.05 t
1.28
Asians
115,510*
73,870
0.67 T
0.42
Other<gi
180,730
170,950
2.79
253
Age
12-17
377,420
400,830
131%
1.61%
18-24
484,710
504,420
1.62
1.70
25-34
684250
677.100
132
150
35-49
779,070 t
651,210
1/7 t
1.06
50-64
675,580
612,010
1.07
0.98
65 or older
253/30
213,490
0.49
0.40
Marital status
Never married 1.572,480
1567,440
1.62%
1.60%
Married
899,040
820,940
0.70
0.63
Widow/
widower
140,520 t
90300
0.93 t
0.60
Divorced
495,460#
417,300
1.81t
1.54
Separated
137,510
156,050
268
3.14
Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding and missing data.
Violent-crime categories include rape or sexual assault. robbery. aggravated
assault. and simple assault, and they indude threatened. attempted.
and completed occurrences of those crimes. See appendix table 34 for
population numbers and appendix table 22 for standard errors.
*Comparison year.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 95%conndence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90%confictence level.
aNumber of persons age 12 or older who experienced at least one violent
victimization during the year.
bPercentage of persons age 12 or older who experienced at least one violent
victimization during the year.
cExdudes persons of Hispanic origin (e.g.. 'white" refers to non-Hispanic
whites and "black" refers to non-Hispanic blacks).
dincludes Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders. American Indians
and Alaska Natives, and persons of two or more races.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistic. National Crime Victimization Survey.
2018 and 2019.
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TABLE 20
Number and percent of households victimized, by type of property crime, 2015-2019
Number of households victimize&
Percent of households victimizedb
Type of property crime
2015
2016
2017
2018
20W
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019•
Total
10,030,510
9225,060
9,145,690 t
9080.4901 8545,770
7.60%1 7.37% t
743%1 7.27%t 6.76%
Burglary/trespassingc
2,175,380
2,037320
1,842,7301
1251.4201 1,537,190
1.65%1 153%1 1.50%t 1.48%t 1.22%
Burglaryd
1.562,130
1,455,720
1,273,410t
1333,600t
1.040,730
1.18t
1.091
1.031
1.07t
0.82
Trespassinge
707,910
671,650
639,6201
585,190
530,440
0.54 t
0.501
0.521
0.47
0.42
Motor-vehicle theft
465,650
470,880
438,860
424360
411.140
0.35%
035%
0.36%
0.34%
0.33%
Other [befit
7.941,030
7,803350
7,330,960#
7,261240
6,991.800
6.02%1 5.85%1 5.96%1 5.82%1 5.53%
Note: Details may not sum to totals because a household may experience multiple types of crime.The number of property crimes should not be compared
from 2017. 2018. or 2019 to 2016 or 2015, as the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) household weighting adjustment was updated for 2017
onward, which decreased the number of estimated households by about 8%. Property crime rates are unaffected by this change. See Methodology for
details. See appendix table 35 for number of households and appendix table 23 for standard errors.
*Comparison year.
tDifference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
*Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90% confidence level.
aNumber of households that experienced at least one property victimization during the year.
ttercentage of households that experienced at least one property victimization during the year.
cCalled household burglary prior to Criminal Victimization. 2018. Includes unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of places, including a permanent
residence, other residence (e.g.. a hotel room or vacation residence). or other structure (e.g.. a garage or shed). but does not include trespassing on land.
dlndudes only crimes where the offender committed or attempted a theft Estimates differ from those previously published in the Criminal
Victimization. 2018report because a coding error that affected the generation of those earlier estimates has been corrected.
Includes crimes where the offender did not commit or attempt a theft. Does not include trespassing on land. Estimates differ from those previously
published in the Criminal Victimization. 20 f 8 report because a coding error that affected the generation of those earlier estimates has been corrected.
Includes the taking or attempted unlawful taking of property or cash without personal contact with the victim. Incidents involving theft of property from
eithin the same household would classify as theft if the offender has a legal right to be in the house (such as a maid. delivery person, or guest). If the
offender has no legal right to be in the house, the incident would classify as a burglary.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey, 2015.2019.
Prevalence of serious crime
Tables 21 and 22 in this report present a person-based
prevalence measure to show the number and percentage
of persons who were victims of a serious crime. This
measure includes serious violent and serious property
crimes combined into one statistic. Crimes included in this
measure are those for which offenders can generally be
charged with a felony offense.
Serious violent crime includes—
■ Rape or sexual assault completed or attempted rape,
completed sexual assault with serious or minor injuries,
and completed forced sexual assault without injury
■ Robbery: completed or attempted robbery
■ Aggravated assault: completed aggravated assault
with injury, and attempted or threatened aggravated
assault with a weapon.
Serious property crime includes—
■ Completed burglary: unlawful or forcible entry
into places, including a permanent residence, other
residence (e.g., a hotel room or vacation residence), or
other structure (e.g., a garage or shed), and involving a
theft or attempted theft
■ Completed motor-vehicle theft.
The measure of serious crime attributes a completed
burglary victimization to each person age 12 or older in
the household, and it attributes completed motor-vehicle
theft to persons age 12 or older in the household when
they were the person responding to the survey on behalf
of the household (the household reference person) or
were related to the household reference person.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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The percentage of persons who were victims of
serious crime decreased from 2018 to 2019
There were 880,000 fewer victims of serious crimes in
2019 than in 2018, a 19% drop (table 21). Serious crimes
are those for which an offender can generally be charged
with a felony offense. Based on the 2019 survey, 1.36% of
persons age 12 or older (3.8 million) experienced at least
one serious crime, down from 1.68% (4.6 million) in
2018. The decline in serious crime was driven primarily
by a decrease in serious property crime, especially a
decline in completed burglary. The percentage of persons
age 12 or older who were victims of serious property
crime declined from 1.25% in 2018 to 0.96% in 2019. The
percentage of persons age 12 or older who were victims
of completed burglary declined from 0.98% in 2018 to
0.73% in 2019.
From 2018 to 2019, the percentage of persons age 12
or older who were victims of completed or attempted
rape or of completed sexual assault with injury or
force declined from 0.09% to 0.06%, a drop of more
than 85,000 victims. There were no other statistically
significant changes in serious violent crime from 2018
to 2019.
TABLE 21
Number and percent of persons who were victims of serious alma 2015-2019
Number olvIctine
Type of crime
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019.
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019'
Total serious al mec
4,793040T
4,708,410 t
4329,5201'
4,63C‘730
3,756,490
1.78%t 1.73%t 1.66%t 1.68%t 1.36%
Serious violent aimed
1,063,530
1,092,700
1.170,460
1277,820
1,173,030
039%
0.40%
0.43%
0.46%
042%
Rape/sexual assault
exd. threats and
no-force contact
164,880
131,760
144,280
254320t
168,860
006
0.05
0.05
0.09 t
006
Robbery
375,280
312,310
402,430
363210
337,720
0.14
0.11
0.15
0.13
0.12
Aggravated assault
560,720T
680.770
646,540
694260
697.190
0211
025
024
025
025
Serious property aimee 3,824,5501
3.693,820 i
3,452,530 t
3,443,770 t
2,662370
142%1 1.36%t
127%1 125%t 0.96%
Completed burglary
3,083.6401
2,973,8901
2.736,910 t
2,691.120t
2,016280
1.141
1091
1.001
0.981'
0.73
Completed
motor-vehicle theft
801.770
802,270
746,630
794,040
663.430
030
029
027
0.29
024
Note: Details may not sum to totals because a person may experience multiple types of crime. See appendix table 24 for standard errors.
'Comparison year.
}Difference with comparison year is significant at the 95% confidence level.
$Difference with comparison year is significant at the 90% confidence level.
aNumber of persons age 12 or older who experienced at least one serious crime during the year.
bPercentage of persons age 12 or older who experienced at least one serious crime during the year.
%dudes persons who were a victim of a serious violent crime or whose household experienced a completed burglary or completed motor-vehicle theft.
For these crimes. offenders can generally be charged with a felony offense.
dincludes completed rape or attempted rape. sexual assault with serious or minor injuries. completed forced sexual assault without injury. completed or
attempted robbery. completed aggravated assault with injury.and attempted or threatened aggravated assault with a weapon. Excludes simple assault.
threatened rape or sexual assault. and unwanted sexual contact (not rape) without force.
°Includes completed burglary and completed motor-vehicle theft. Completed burglary includes unlawful or forcible entry of places. including a permanent
residence, other residence (e.g., a hotel room or vacation residence). or other structure (e.g.. a garage or shed). and involving a theft or attempted theft.
Excludes attempted burglary. residential trespassing• and all other property crimes. This measure attributes a burglary victimization to each person age
12 or older in the household. Completed motor-vehicle•theft victimization were attributed to persons only when they were age 12 or older and were the
reference person for their household or were related to the reference person.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. 2015.2019.
Percent of personsb
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
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From 2018 to 2019, the percentage of whites and
blacks who were victims of serious crime decreased
Based on the 2019 survey, 1.44% of males (1.9 million
males) and 1.28% of females (l.8 million females) were
victims of serious crime (table 22), which represented a
decline from 2018 for both sexes. In 2019, the prevalence
of serious crime was higher for males than for females.
The percentage of white persons age 12 or older who
experienced serious crime declined from 1.57% in
2018 to 1.23% in 2019. The percentage of black persons
declined from 2.21% to 1.57%. The percentage of
Hispanics who were victims of serious crime in 2019
(1.70%) was higher than the percentage of whites (1.23%)
or Asians (0.79%).
The prevalence of serious crime decreased from 2018
to 2019 among persons ages 12 to 17 (from 1.95% to
1.46%), 35 to 49 (from 1.82% to 1.30%), 50 to 64 (from
1.60% to 1.23%), and 65 or older (from 1.26% to 1.00%).
In 2019, the percentage of persons ages 18 to 24 (1.84%)
who experienced serious crime was higher than the
percentage of persons ages 35 to 49 (1.30%), 50 to 64
(1.23%), and 65 or older (1.00%).
Never-married persons, married persons, widows
or widowers, and divorced persons all experienced
declines in serious crime from 2018 to 2019. In 2019,
the prevalence of serious crime for married persons
(1.04%) was lower than the prevalence for never-married
(1.62%), divorced (1.84%), or separated (2.58%) persons.
CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION, 2019 I SEPTEMBER 2020
TABLE 22
Number and percent of persons who were victims of
serious crime, by demographic characteristics of victims,
2018 and 2019
Victim
demographic
characteristic
Number of victims.)
2018
20