THE VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS SHOULD PRODUCE MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL EXTENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED CRIMES THAN DATA PRESENTLY AVAILABLE FROM POLICE STATISTICS BECAUSE UNREPORTED CRIMES WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED. THE IMPACT DATA WILL ASSESS FINANCIAL LOSS AND PHYSICAL INJURY AND WILL ALSO COMPARE VICTIMS AND NONVICTIMS IN TERMS OF FEELINGS OF SECURITY AND FEAR OF CRIME. PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE RISK DATA CAN BE DEVELOPED FROM THESE SURVEYS AS WELL AS USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNCTIONING OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON BREAKING AND ENTERING, THEFT, ROBBERY, ASSAULT, RAPE, AUTOMOBILE THEFT, AND WILLFUL DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. DATA WILL ALSO BE GATHERED ON VICTIMIZATION OF FAMILY OR CLOSE FRIENDS. THE BACKGROUND DISCUSSION LISTS LESSONS LEARNED FROM SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN CHICAGO, ILL., AND CINCINNATI, OHIO. THIS STUDY WILL BE STARTED IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA. IT IS HOPED THAT A PILOT TELEPHONE SURVEY WILL PROVE AS EFFECTIVE AS THE PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND A RANDOM DIGIT DIALING SYSTEM CAN BE USED IN FUTURE SURVEYS. A FRENCH-LANGUAGE SURVEY IS ALSO BEING PREPARED. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)