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Ethnoviolence Project: Pilot Study

NCJ Number
117967
Author(s)
P H Ephross; A Barnes; H J Ehrlich; K R Sandnes; J C Weiss
Date Published
1986
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This is a report on the pilot phase of a national study of the effects of ethnoviolence (physical assaults, verbal harassment, attacks on people's homes, and vandalism) on minority group victims.
Abstract
A sample of victims was obtained through contacts between members of the research staff and officials of human rights agencies, social service agencies, community relations agencies, and special units of police departments in several States. Between December 1985 and May 1986 indepth "focus group" interviews were conducted in nine cities in California, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Of the sample of 72 (representing nine ethnic groups and five religious groups), 17.5 percent experienced one discrete victimization, 17.5 percent underwent multiple discrete attacks, and 65 percent experienced multiple interconnected attacks. Of the 109 incidents, 24.8 percent involved physical assaults. Other incidents in order of frequency were verbal harassment, attacks on homes, mail or telephone harassment, hate symbols on or near victims' property, and other acts of vandalism. Findings also cover the reporting of the incidents and the responses of the victims. 2 tables.