Bureau of Justice Statistics

Victimization beyond police reports: NCVS

Study nonfatal victimization, including incidents not reported to police.

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Dataset guide · Bureau of Justice Statistics

Read with context.

NCVS surveys eligible people age 12 and older and households. Use the correct person, household or victimization weights and preserve the definition of each rate. Check the 2024 instrument-redesign notes before constructing trends.

Before using a figure in advocacy, record the exact table or measure, geography, observation period, population, denominator and uncertainty. This page is a research guide; it does not claim that raw data have been imported or independently analyzed.

Limits to keep in view

The survey excludes people who are homeless and people in institutional settings. It does not measure homicide and is not a direct substitute for police administrative counts.

Connect evidence to action

Choose a question, verify the relevant jurisdiction, and explain the action you are asking someone to take. A source-backed draft is a starting point—not a message sent on your behalf.

Use this in an advocacy brief

Research sources

Source text supports this summary. Human editorial approval, service availability and eligibility are separate checks.

Related policy & program records

Shared topic, not a claim of causation or eligibility.

Your working notes

Keep the context with the claim.

Write the question first

What are you trying to understand? Identify the population and place before looking for a number that might support your position.

Capture the measure

Record the source title, table or indicator, units, reference period and any stated uncertainty. Preserve the original wording of technical definitions.

Distinguish observation from explanation

A difference between groups can prompt further inquiry. It does not, by itself, identify the cause or establish the effect of a particular policy.