Violence committed by strangers - ARCHIVED

Police-reported statistics indicate that crime rates in Canada decreased for the fifth consecutive year in 1996. Similar trends have been noted in England/Wales and the United States. Results from victimization surveys confirm this recent trend, yet despite this decrease in crime, many Canadians remain fearful of being victimized. What is the source of this fear; who is more likely to be a victim of violent crime; who is the typical perpetrator; and where is the victimization likely to take place? Generally speaking, questions like these are designed to assess concerns about threats of violence by strangers. But what is the nature of violent incidents involving strangers and what are the characteristics of those strangers? The answers to these questions are examined below.The purpose of this Juristat is to examine the profile of perpetrators and victims of violent crime by comparing characteristics of crimes committed by strangers to those involving offenders known to the victim. This will contribute to discussions about the nature of violent crime and about related concerns that are at the centre of current debates.