Who Experiences Violent Victimization and Who Accesses Services? (2019)

The purpose of this research1 is to identify groups of persons at high risk for serious violent victimization to help inform how victim services and assistance can be targeted to victims of greatest need. Disparities in risk and use of victim services are examined using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)—the nation’s primary source of statistical information on criminal victimization. Group characteristics such as gender, race and ethnicity, and low income status are
considered, as are other factors that can help identify who is most likely to experience serious nonlethal violent victimization and who currently accesses victim services. The report describes trends in victimization and victim service use over time, as well as patterns for the most recent time period.