Millions of Americans are the victims of a crime each year. Statistics can be meaningful for your outreach, but it’s important to verify information before sharing it with your community. Be sure to get crime victimization statistics from reputable sources.
Here are a few sources for statistics about criminal victimization in the United States:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Crime Data Explorer,
cde.ucr.cjis.gov
Bureau of Justice Statistics
- Criminal Victimization, 2023,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/criminal-victimization-2023 - Violent Victimization by Race or Hispanic Origin, 2008–2021,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/violent-victimization-race-or-hispanic-origin-2008-2021 - Criminal Victimization in the 22 Largest U.S. States, 2017–2019,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/criminal-victimization-22-largest-us-states-2017-2019 - Data Breach Notifications and Identity Theft, 2021,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/data-breach-notifications-and-identity-theft-2021 - Female Murder Victims and Victim-Offender Relationship, 2021,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/female-murder-victims-and-victim-offender-relationship-2021 - Carjacking Victimization, 1995–2021,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/carjacking-victimization-1995-2021 - Human Trafficking Data Collection Activities, 2024,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-data-collection-activities-2024 - Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2023,
bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/report-indicators-school-crime-and-safety-2023-and-indicator-2-incidence
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey,
cdc.gov/nisvs/about/index.html - National Violent Death Reporting System,
cdc.gov/nvdrs/about/index.html - FastStats: Assault or Homicide,
cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm
Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System,
acf.hhs.gov/cb/data-research/ncands - Child Maltreatment 2023,
acf.gov/cb/report/child-maltreatment-2023
Many national hotlines also provide data about the contacts they receive. There may also be state- or municipal-level data available in your area. You may contact the records staff of your local law enforcement agency, statewide law enforcement agency, or court system for accurate information about crime reports, arrests, and criminal or civil justice court cases in your area. State Statistical Analysis Centers are another good source for data. Access a list of relevant contacts at bjs.ojp.gov/programs/state-justice-statistics-program.
Always be sure to cite the original source for the data you quote, rather than a secondary source (like a newspaper or magazine article) and provide links where people in your community can find more information. Data can be used to bolster any public-facing content that you are producing or in which you are participating. For example:
- If you are asked to participate in an interview, you can prepare by researching beforehand to ensure that any information you provide is factual.
- If you are writing a blog, opinion piece, or news article, you can use these sources to ensure accuracy.
- If you are creating memos, fliers, or handouts with information about crime victimization or survivor resources, use these sources to check your facts.
- If you are asked to speak at a public event, you can research statistics beforehand.
- If you are making social media posts or videos, you can use these sources to ensure that the information you are sharing is up to date and accurate.
