These countries were selected from among the 34 countries that participated because of their similarity in social, political, and economic characteristics. Also, the survey methodology was most similar for this group of countries. According to the 1996 ICVS, 25 percent of the adult population in Canada reported being victimized in the previous year. Compared to 10 other western industrialized countries, Canada's victimization rate was about average. Results for the five countries that have participated in all three rounds of the ICVS (Canada, England and Wales, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United States) show that victimization rates are fairly stable. Among the group of 11 countries, Canadians were the most satisfied with their police. In 1996, 80 percent of the population felt the police were doing a good job at controlling crime in their area. The Netherlands, which had the highest victimization rate, ranked their police the lowest; only 45 percent of the population felt the police were doing a good job. When asked to decide on a sentence for a burglar convicted for a second time, people in Canada, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United States chose prison by a wide margin over other sanctions. People in Sweden felt safest walking alone in their area after dark. Fear of a break-in was highest in France. A majority of households in the western countries were using home-security measures. Special door locks were the most popular measures in nine countries, including Canada. 7 tables, 14 figures, and 10 references