U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

FEMALE VICTIMS OF MINOR CRIMES

NCJ Number
68319
Author(s)
C H D STEINMETZ
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE INCREASED VICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN IN DUTCH SOCIETY, THIS REPORT ANALYZES THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MALE/FEMALE VICTIMIZATION ACCORDING TO 10 SPECIFIC CRIMES.
Abstract
THE CRIME INCIDENTS SURVEYED INCLUDE BICYCLE THEFT, MOPED THEFT, THEFT OF AND FROM A CAR, BURGLARY, PICK POCKETING, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, INDECENT ASSAULT IN THE STREET, THREATENING OR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN THE STREET, AND 'HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS.' THE REPORT CONSIDERS THREE FACTORS: (1) THE RISK OF BECOMING A VICTIM, (2) THE WILLINGNESS OF CITIZENS TO NOTIFY THE POLICE OF AN INCIDENT, AND (3) THE RECORDING POLICY OF THE POLICE. IN THE NETHERLANDS, THE PROBABILITY THAT FEMALES WILL BECOME VICTIMS OF MINOR CRIMES IS INCREASING GRADUALLY. SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR THIS PHENOMENON ARE POINTED OUT: INCREASING EMANCIPATION, MORE LEISURE TIME SPENT OUTDOORS, AND A DECREASING PERIOD OF MOTHERHOOD. DATA SHOW THAT IN 1977-78, WOMEN MORE OFTEN THEN MEN BECAME THE VICTIMS OF PICK POCKETING AND INDECENT ASSAULT IN THE STREET; THAT IN 1977, MOPEDS WERE STOLEN FROM WOMEN AS OFTEN AS MEN; AND THAT IN 1977, MEN BECAME VICTIMS MORE OFTEN THAN WOMEN FOR THE OTHER CRIMES. IN GENERAL, WOMEN NOTIFY THE POLICE ABOUT THEIR VICTIM EXPERIENCE AS OFTEN AS MEN, AT LEAST FOR THE 10 CRIMES INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY. IN ADDITION, THE POLICE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE RESPONDENTS WHEN MAKING A REPORT. THE STUDY NOTES THAT THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, PARTICULARLY THE COUNCIL OF PUBLIC PROSECUTORS, IS THE MOTIVATING FORCE IN THE DUTCH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE COUNCIL APPEARS TO OPERATE AS A 'TREND SETTER' (DECRIMINALIZING MINOR CRIMES) WITH ALL ITS CONSEQUENCES, SUCH AS THE DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE RECORDING POLICY AND THE INDIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE CITIZENS' WILLINGNESS TO NOTIFY. HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY ALSO BE PERCEIVED AS THE EXTENSION OF 'MORAL' JUDGMENTS BASED ON EXISTING SOCIAL ROLES OF 'MAN-WOMAN,' IN WHICH THE MAN IS GENERALLY FAVORED. PARTICULAR REFERENCE IS DIRECTED TO THE ROLE OF 'PATER FAMILIAS', DERIVED FROM ROMAN LAW, IN WHICH ONLY THE MAN WAS RECOGNIZED AS HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND, THEREFORE, THE PROBABLE NOTIFIER OF A CRIMINAL INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WITH THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN 'WORKING' SOCIETY AND THE DECLINE OF DOMESTIC ROLES, THIS ATTITUDE SHOULD DIMINISH. MOREOVER, INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN WORKING IS ALREADY SEEN IN THE INCREASED CHANCES OF FEMALE VICTIMIZATION. FOOTNOTES, DATA TABLES, AND SIX REFERENCES ARE SUPPLIED.