The primary objective of national crime surveys is to provide trend data on the victimization rate for selected crimes. Such data can be used as social indicators of the actual number of crimes. National crime surveys can also be used to collect data on the material consequences of criminal victimization and to ascertain public attitudes toward crime and the criminal justice system. Results of national crime surveys can also be used for the formation and testing of theories such as the differential distribution of victimization risks over the population. During the 1980's, local crime surveys have become an important policy tool for the development of crime-control policies. Local surveys are often mounted in the preparatory stage of a local crime-control initiative. The 1989 International Crime Survey involved 15 countries. In the majority of countries, 2,000 respondents were interviewed by telephone, using the technology of computer-assisted telephone interviews. Respondents were asked about 11 forms of victimization during the past 5 years and during the last year (1988). 37 references and 10 figures