Developments in the Subnational NCVS Program

• In Event: National Crime Victimization Survey Users' Group

Abstract

Though the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) was originally designed to provide national-level estimates of criminal victimization, BJS has recognized an increasing need for victimization data at the state and local levels. Such estimates are also of value to a range of other stakeholders. Yet, the current NCVS design and cost render it implausible to extend data collection to produce these estimates for lower-level localities on a large scale. With support from contractors and partners, in recent years BJS has developed multiple approaches for obtaining subnational NCVS estimates. This paper will provide information on these various efforts, including the NCVS Companion Survey – a self-administered mail survey that collected two years of subnational victimization data in the 40 largest core-based statistical areas (CBSAs), a boost of the core NCVS sample in certain states to obtain direct state-level estimates, the development of updated public-use data files with victimization data at the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) level for the 40 largest MSAs, and others.

Authors

• Grace Kena, Bureau of Justice Statistics

• Lynn Langton, Bureau of Justice Statistics