Table of contents

1. Aggregate type of crime (newcrime)
2. Head of household age (hhage)
3. Hispanic origin of head of household (hhhisp)
4. Household income (hincome)
5. Household size (hnumber)
6. Location of incident (locationr)
7. Location of residence (msa)
8. Population size (popsize)
9. Race of head of household (hhrace1R)
10. Race/Hispanic origin of head of household (hheth1R)
11. Region (region)
12. Reporting to the police (notify)
13. Sex of head of household (hhgen)
14. Type of crime (newoff)
15. Victim services (vicservices)
16. Weight (weight)
17. Year (year)

Household victimization includes all property victimization, burglary/trespassing, motor-vehicle theft, and theft. This category includes both attempted and completed crimes.

The respondent's age on the last day of the month before the interview. The NCVS collects information on household members age 12 or older. The age of the head of household is used for computing household crime demographics.

The classification of the head of household based on Hispanic culture and origin, without considering race.

The total income of the household head and all members of the household for the 12 months preceding the interview. Includes wages, salaries, net income from businesses or farms, pensions, interest, dividends, rent, and any other form of monetary income.

The total number of people residing in the household. This includes household members under the age of 12.

A measure of where the victimization occurred. This is asked of victims of both personal and household victimization. The locations include at or near the victim's home; at or near a friend, neighbor, or relative's home; at a commercial place; in a parking lot or garage; in other public areas (i.e., in open areas, on the street, or on public transportation); at school; or somewhere else.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines location of residence using metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), which contain a population nucleus of 50,000 or more, generally consisting of a city and its immediate suburbs, along with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with the nucleus. MSAs are designated by counties, the smallest geographic units for which a wide range of statistical data can be attained. However, in New England, MSAs are designated by cities and towns because these subcounty units are of great local significance and considerable data are available for them. Currently, an area is defined as an MSA if it meets one of two standards: (1) a city has a population of at least 50,000 residents, and (2) the Census Bureau defines an urbanized area of at least 50,000 people with a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000 (or 75,000 in New England). The Census Bureau's definition of urbanized areas, data on commuting to work, and the strength of the economic and social ties between the surrounding counties and the central city determine which counties not containing a main city are included in an MSA. For New England, MSAs are determined by a core area and related cities and towns, not counties. An MSA may contain more than one city of 50,000 residents and may cross state lines. The descriptions of values on the location of residence variable have changed to better reflect what is being measured.

The size range for the place in which the housing unit is located. "Not a place" is a concentration of population that is either not legally bounded as an incorporated place having an active government or not delineated for statistical purposes as a census designated place with definite geographic boundaries, such as a city, town, or village.

Racial categories are defined by the Office of Management and Budget. Beginning in 2003, BJS implemented methodological changes to reflect new guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget for the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data in government surveys. This caused changes to the other race category for the race of head of household. Prior to 2003, the other race category for the race of head of household included American Indian/Aleut Eskimo, Asian/Pacific Islander, and other races. Since 2003, the other race category has included American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Other races, and two or more races. The race of the head of household is used in determining the race of the household for computing household crime demographics.

Racial categories are defined by the Office of Management and Budget. Beginning in 2003, BJS implemented methodological changes to reflect new guidelines from the Office of Management and Budget for the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data in government surveys. This caused changes to the non-Hispanic other race category for the race/Hispanic origin of head of household. Prior to 2003, the non-Hispanic other race category for race/Hispanic origin of head of household included non-Hispanic American Indian/Aleut Eskimo, non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, and non-Hispanic other races. Since 2003, the non-Hispanic other race category for race/Hispanic origin of head of household has included non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic Other races, and non-Hispanic two or more races.

The states have been divided into four groups or census regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. The Northeast includes the 9 states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Midwest includes the 12 states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The South includes the District of Columbia and the 16 states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The West includes the 13 states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Specifies whether the crime was reported to police. To calculate the household victimization rate by reporting to the police, use the total household population as the denominator.

The respondent's sex. The sex of the head of household is used for computing household crime demographics.

Household victimization includes all property victimization (burglary/trespassing, motor-vehicle theft, and theft). This category includes both attempted and completed crimes.

Burglary/trespassing: Traditionally called household burglary. Includes unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of places, including a permanent residence, other residence (e.g., a hotel room or vacation residence), or other structure (e.g., a garage or shed). Includes victimizations where the offender stole, attempted to steal, or did not attempt to steal. Does not include trespassing on land.

Motor-vehicle theft: The unlawful taking, or attempted taking, of self-propelled road vehicle owned by another, with the intent to permanently or temporarily depriving the owner of possession. Excludes vehicle parts.

Theft: The taking or attempted unlawful taking of property or cash without personal contact with the victim. Incidents involving theft of property from within a household are classified as theft if the offender has a legal right to be in the house (e.g., a maid, delivery person, or guest). If the offender has no legal right to be in the house, the incident is classified as a burglary/trespassing.

A measure of whether victims received any help or advice from victim service agencies. This is asked of victims of both personal and household victimization. Victim service agencies are publicly or privately funded organizations that provide victims with support and services to aid their physical and emotional recovery, offer protection from future victimizations, guide them through the criminal justice system process, and assist them in obtaining restitution.

Weight definition

Year of victimization