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Crime Facts:
Violent crimes in this discussion include attempted and completed crimes as well as reported
and unreported crimes.
Crime statistics are difficult to interpret and can be misleading.
The chance that you will be violently victimized in any given year is about 3%.
The chance of an auto accident is about 1.7%, an accident of any kind - 24%
People under 34 are four times as likely to be assaulted as their older neighbors.
Persons earning under $30,000 are assaulted four times as often than their wealthier
neighbors.
Your chance of victimization is the same wherever you live (city vs. suburb or rural) except
robbery which happens more in the city.
Single people (divorced, separated, not married) are 4 times more likely to be assaulted than
married folks.
Almost all rape victims are single (divorced, separated, not married.)
Your true odds:
1. You are a 30 year old white married woman working and living in Bridgewater earning
$36,000/year.
Your chance of being assaulted is between 0.21% and 0.47% with an average chance of 0.35%
or 1:300.
2. You are a 23 year old white college student who does not work.
90% of spousal or ex-spousal violent crimes are committed by men against women.
¼ of all victims of spousal crimes had been a victim previously ( at least 3 times in the past 6
months)
Protection was used in 80% of all violent crimes but approximately half of all crimes are
completed. If we assume that “doing nothing” would mostly result in a completed crime, only 38%
of crimes are completed where the victim tried to do something.
This roughly agrees with the 1993 CVUS report which says that 85% of persons taking some
action were successful in protecting themselves (in terms of the completed crime and lessening
injury.)
Running away, talking to the assailant or calling for help are the means of defense used more
often for uncompleted crimes.
This does not mean that these strategies are successful in preventing a completed crime!
Attacking your assailant, resisting, or talking to the offender are used more often in completed
offenses.
This does not mean that these strategies had an effect on whether the crime was
completed or not!
It may mean that the completed crimes were serious enough to warrant more physical
actions.
According to the author of the 1993 CVUS, any resistance will lessen the likelihood of a
completed crime but heighten the chance of injury. Two facts may skew this data. Robberies may
be resisted and that resistance may cause injury to the victim. This is born out in the CVUS
information.
People are also mainly untrained in self defense so their means of protection may be insufficient
to protect them from harm.
Remember that 80% of assailants will use physical force first! (before the victim.)
Awareness
Be aware of where you are and who is around you. Notice whether people are in cars near you,
following you in a vehicle or on foot, whether you have doors locked. Be aware of items that are
important to you based on your personal situation and risks (i.e. if you are separated, there is a
likelihood that your violent ex. May have access to your home. - change the locks!)
Verbal/psychological strategy
Establish 3 second eye contact. Walk and talk in a confident (boardroom) manner. Take charge
of every situation. Establish personal links to unknown assailants (Don’t I know your mother?)
Talk loud.
Physical Strategy
Use first strike mentality. Push and run. Visualize and practice “no-block” counters.
All the above strategies still hold true for attack with weapons.