Criminal Victimization, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
THURSDAY, September 12, 2024, 10:00 AM ET	Contact: OJP MEDIA [email protected]

Press Release

Violent victimization unchanged year over year and at prepandemic levels

WASHINGTON ― Data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) indicate that in 2023, the rate of nonfatal violent victimization in the United States was 22.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older, which was similar to the 2022 rate of 23.5 violent victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. Violent victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault.

"Findings show that there was an overall decline in the rate of violent victimization over the last three decades, from 1993 to 2023," said Kevin M. Scott, Ph.D., BJS Acting Director. "While the 2023 rate was higher than those in 2020 and 2021, it was not statistically different from the rate 5 years ago, in 2019."

The rate of violent victimization excluding simple assault for males decreased, from 9.5 per 1,000 persons in 2022 to 6.9 per 1,000 in 2023, while the rate for females did not change significantly.

Of the more than 6.4 million violent victimizations in 2023, about 9% involved a firearm, which was not significantly different from the percentage in 2022. Firearm victimizations are violent victimizations where the offender possessed, showed or used a firearm.

In 2023, the rate of property victimization was 102.2 per 1,000 households, which was not significantly different from 2022. However, the rate of property victimization in urban areas increased from 176.1 per 1,000 in 2022 to 192.3 per 1,000 in 2023. Property victimization includes burglary or trespassing, motor vehicle theft, and other types of household theft.

The NCVS collects information on crimes reported and not reported to police. A smaller percentage of robbery victimizations that occurred in 2023 (42%) than in 2022 (64%) were reported to police, and the percentage of motor vehicle thefts reported to police decreased from 81% in 2022 to 72% in 2023.

These findings are from the NCVS, a self-report survey administered annually from January 1 to December 31. Annual estimates are based on the number and characteristics of crimes that respondents experienced during the prior 6 months, excluding the month in which they were interviewed. The survey collects information on threatened, attempted and completed crimes and on crimes reported and not reported to police.

Criminal Victimization, 2023, written by BJS Statisticians Susannah N. Tapp, Ph.D., and Emilie J. Coen, Dr.P.H.; related documents; and additional information about BJS's statistical publications and programs are available on the BJS website at bjs.ojp.gov. The NCVS Dashboard (N-DASH), an interactive online data visualization dashboard, and the NCVS API have been updated with 2023 data. BJS will also release a series of infographics highlighting key findings from the 2023 NCVS.

About the Bureau of Justice Statistics

The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating reliable statistics on crime and criminal justice in the United States. Kevin M. Scott, Ph.D., is the acting director. More information about BJS and criminal justice statistics can be found at bjs.ojp.gov.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices - the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office - can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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