How many crime victims are there in the United States, and what are the trends and patterns in victimization?

In this section, let's discuss some of the most important victimization patterns and trends.

The Social Ecology of Victimization

Seasonal variations
- Serious violent and household property crimes in summer is higher than other seasons

Neighborhood characteristics
- Those living in the central city experience higher rates of theft and violence than suburbanites
- Living in a disorganized neighborhood increase victimization risk

Crime in schools
- The scene of a great deal of victimization: 850,000 victimization occur at school
- Why? Because they are populated by teenage males who are one of the most segments of society

- Repeat victimization
  - Prior victimization increases the risk of future victimization
  - Why? Because they do not change their risky lifestyle
Victims and Their Criminals
- Males are more likely to be victimized by a stranger
- Females are more likely to be victimized by a friend, an acquaintance, or an intimate partner
- Crimes tend to be intraracial (Whites -> Whites, Blacks -> Blacks)
- A surprising number of violent crimes are committed by relatives or acquaintances
  - Murder victims are part of a relatively small network of people involved in some form of interpersonal conflict and who live in close proximity to one another