U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

BJS

Special Report

DECEMBER 2012 NCJ 239424

I

n 2010, about 1.8 million nonfatal violent 

victimizations were committed by strangers, 

which was a 77% decline from 7.9 million 

victimizations in 1993. Violent victimizations 

committed by strangers accounted for about 38% of 

all nonfatal violence in 2010. Simple assault made 

up the majority (60%) of victimizations committed 

by strangers during the year, followed by aggravated 

assault (20%), robbery (17%), and rape or sexual 

assault (2%). From 1993 to 2008, among homicides 

reported to the FBI for which the victim-offender 

relationship was known, between 21% and 27% 

of homicides were committed by strangers and 

between 73% and 79% were committed by offenders 

known to the victims.

From 1993 to 2010, the rate of nonfatal violent 

victimization committed by strangers declined 81%, 

from 37.7 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 

or older to 7.1 per 1,000 (figure 1). Similarly, during 

the 18-year period the rate of violence committed 

by offenders known to their victims dropped 73%, 

from 39.4 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 

or older to 10.5 per 1,000. The percentage decline in 

the rate of violence committed by strangers and the 

rate committed by offenders known to the victim 

from 1993 to 2010 was not statistically different.

Erika Harrell, Ph.D., BJS Statistician

HIGHLIGHTS

 In 2010, strangers committed about 38% of nonfatal violent 

crimes, including rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. 

 There was no statistical difference between the percentage 

decline for violence by strangers (81%) and by offenders 

known to the victims (73%) from 1993 to 2010.

 In 2005-10, more than half (52%) of all robberies were 

committed by strangers, down from nearly two-thirds (64%) 

in 1993-98.

 In 2005-10, strangers committed 62% of violent 

victimizations occurring in public places.

 In 2005-10, about 9% of violent victimizations that occurred 

in victims’ homes were committed by strangers.

 In 2005-10, about 10% of violent victimizations committed 

by strangers involved a firearm, compared to 5% committed 

by offenders known to the victim. 

 In 2005-10, about 22% of victims of violence committed by 

strangers were injured, compared to 31% of victims who 

knew the offender. 

 In 2010, more than half (55%) of violent victimizations by 

strangers were reported to police, although the percentage 

fluctuated from 1993 to 2010.

 From 2005 to 2008, about 43% of homicides known to have 

been committed by a stranger occurred during a robbery or 

argument.

Violent Victimization Committed 

by Strangers, 1993-2010

0

10

20

30

40

50

Strangers

Oenders knowna

'10'09'08'07'06b '05'04'03'02'01'00'99'98'97'96'95'94'93

Rate per 1,000 persons age 12 or older

Figure 1

Rate of violent victimization committed by strangers and offenders 

known to victims, 1993–2010

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and 

simple assault. See appendix table 1 for rates and standard errors.

aIncludes intimate partners, relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

bThe 2006 estimate is not shown due to methodological changes in the 2006 NCVS. See 

Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 2

The estimates of nonfatal violent victimization committed 

by strangers are based on data from the Bureau of Justice 

Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey 

(NCVS), which collects information on nonfatal crimes 

against persons age 12 or older reported and not reported 

to the police from a nationally representative sample of 

U.S. households. Because the NCVS is based on interviews 

with victims, it does not measure homicide. Information on 

homicide in this report was obtained from the FBI’s Uniform 

Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

Trend estimates are based on annual estimates, while 

subgroup estimates are aggregated annual estimates for 

three time periods—1993 to 1998, 1999 to 2004, and 2005 

to 2010. For example, estimates for 1993-98 represent an 

average annual estimate for the 6-year period. This approach 

increases the reliability and stability of estimates which 

facilitates comparing subgroups over time.

More than half of all robberies were committed by 

strangers

Most of the decline in the rate of violence committed by 

strangers and by offenders the victims knew occurred from 

1993 to 2001 (figure 1). The rate of violence committed by 

strangers declined 65% from 1993 to 2001 and by 47% from 

2001 to 2010. Rates of violence committed by offenders known 

to the victims declined 54% from 1993 to 2001, compared to 

a 41% decrease from 2001 to 2010. There was no statistical 

difference between the percentage decline for violence 

committed by strangers and by offenders known to the victims 

from 1993 to 2010.

In 2005-10, more than half (52%) of all robberies were 

committed by strangers, down from nearly two-thirds (64%) 

in 1993-98. In 2005-10, a greater percentage of robberies 

(52%) were committed by strangers compared to aggravated 

assaults (42%), simple assaults (37%), and rape or sexual 

assault (24%) (table 1). The percentage of all nonfatal 

violence committed by strangers declined from an annual 

average 45% in 1993-98 to 39% in 2005-10. The percentage 

of robberies, aggravated assaults, and simple assaults 

committed by strangers also declined between the two 

periods, while the percentage of rapes and sexual assaults 

committed by strangers remained stable.

Males experienced a larger decline than females in the 

rate of violence committed by strangers

In 2010, males experienced violent victimizations by 

strangers at nearly twice the rate of females (figure 2). 

The rate of violence against males by strangers was 9.5 

victimizations per 1,000 males in 2010 compared to 4.7 

victimizations per 1,000 females. In 1993, the rate for males 

(56.9 violent victimizations per 1,000 males age 12 or older) 

was nearly three times the rate for females (19.6 per 1,000 

females). From 1993 to 2010, males experienced a larger 

decline (83%) than females (76%) in the rate of violence 

committed by strangers. 

Males experienced a 67% decline in the rate of violent 

victimization by strangers from 1993 to 2001, compared to a 

49% decline from 2001 to 2010. Females experienced a 58% 

decline in the rate of violent victimization by strangers from 

1993 to 2001, compared to a 42% decline from 2001 to 2010.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Female

Male

'10'09'08'07'06*'05'04'03'02'01'00'99'98'97'96'95'94'93

Rate per 1,000 persons age 12 or older

Figure 2

Rate of violent victimization committed by strangers, by sex 

of victim, 1993–2010

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 3 for rates and standard errors.

*The 2006 estimate is not shown due to methodological changes in the 2006 

NCVS. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, 

for more information.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Table 1

Violent victimization committed by strangers, by type of 

crime, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010 

Type of crime

Average annual percent

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total violent crime 45.4% 42.1% 39.2%

Serious violent crime 52.0% 47.5% 42.9%

Rape/sexual assault 23.7 26.1 24.1

Robbery 63.9 56.5 51.7

Aggravated assault 52.0 48.7 42.3

Simple assault 42.1% 39.5% 37.3%

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 2 for standard errors. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 3

Young adults ages 18 to 24 were most likely to 

experience violent victimization by a stranger

American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest rate 

of violent victimization by strangers among all racial and 

ethnic groups in each time period (table 2). In 1999-04, 

white, black, and Hispanic victims had similar average 

annual rates of violent victimization by strangers. Between 

1999-04 and 2005-10, the annual average rate of violence 

by strangers declined 37% for Hispanics, 35% for whites, 

and 15% for blacks. In 2005-10, the lowest rates of violent 

victimization by strangers were observed among Asians and 

Pacific Islanders (5.9 per 1,000), whites (9.2 per 1,000), and 

Hispanics (9.8 per 1,000).

Persons ages 18 to 24 had the highest rate of violent 

victimization by strangers among all age groups in each 

time period. In 2005-10, the average annual rate of violent 

victimization committed by strangers against persons ages 

12 to 17 was 15.5 per 1,000, slightly lower than the rate of 

18.3 per 1,000 for persons ages 18 to 24. Persons age 65 or 

older experienced the lowest rate of violence by strangers 

(1.6 per 1,000). From 1993-98 to 2005-10, the rate of violent 

victimization by strangers declined for each age group. 

In 2005-10, persons in households with average annual 

incomes of less than $7,500 had a higher average annual rate 

of violent victimization by strangers (20.2 per 1,000) than 

any other income category.* The rate of violent victimization 

by strangers decreased for each income category across the 

three time periods.

In each time period, persons who were never married 

experienced the highest rates of violent victimization by 

strangers. In 2005-10, persons who were never married 

experienced 16.7 violent victimizations by strangers per 

1,000 persons, compared to 13.0 per 1,000 for persons who 

were divorced or separated, 5.7 for married persons, and 2.2 

for persons who were widowed. Over the three time periods, 

the average annual rate of violent victimization by strangers 

fell for each marital status.

The rate of violent victimization by strangers decreased for 

persons in each educational level measured from 1993-98 

to 2005-10. In 1993-98, the average annual rates of violent 

victimization by strangers against persons who had not 

completed high school (29.4 per 1,000) and those who were 

high school graduates (29.3 per 1,000) were lower than the 

rate for persons who had at least some college education 

(32.6 per 1,000). In 2005-10, the average annual rate of 

violent victimization by strangers did not differ statistically 

from one educational level to another (about 10 per 1,000).

Table 2

Violent victimization committed by strangers, by victim 

characteristics, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Average annual rate 

Victim characteristic 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 30.4 14.4 9.9

Race/Hispanic origin

White* 29.9 14.2 9.2

Black/African American* 31.8 15.6 13.3

Hispanic/Latino 33.4 15.5 9.8

American Indian/

 Alaska Native* 60.0 41.3 28.2

Asian/Pacific Islander* 25.3 8.3 5.9

Two or more races* : : 27.6

Age 

12–17 52.2 21.7 15.5

18–24 61.0 31.5 18.3

25–34 41.1 19.4 14.3

35–49 26.7 12.2 9.5

50–64 12.9 8.5 5.6

65 or older 3.1 1.6 1.6

Annual household income

Less than $7,500 39.4 25.0 20.2

$7,500 to $14,999 31.3 16.5 13.7

$15,000 to $24,999 29.9 15.1 12.4

$25,000 to $34,999 31.6 16.0 11.0

$35,000 to $49,999 30.3 14.3 8.9

$50,000 to $74,999 33.0 14.8 10.7

$75,000 or more 29.6 14.2 8.7

Unknown 22.3 10.4 8.0

Marital status

Never married 52.6 25.3 16.7

Married 18.9 8.3 5.7

Widowed 5.1 3.4 2.2

Divorced or separated 38.9 17.7 13.0

Educational level

Less than high school 29.4 14.2 10.3

High school graduate 29.3 14.3 9.6

At least some college 32.6 14.9 10.2

Note: Rates are calculated per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. Violent victimization 

includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See 

appendix table 4 for standard errors.

: Not calculated because the National Crime Victimization Survey race categories 

did not include “two or more races” until 2003.

*Excludes persons of Hispanic or Latino origin. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

*Rate calculated per 1,000 persons age 12 or older living in households with 

annual income of less than $7,500. 
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 4

Employed persons were more likely than persons not 

employed to be victimized by strangers

Among persons age 16 or older, employed persons were 

more likely to experience violent victimization by strangers 

than persons who were not employed (table 3). Persons 

not employed included persons looking for work, not 

looking for work (such as retirees), and unable to work. 

Among employed persons, the average annual rate of violent 

victimization by strangers in 1993-98 was 36.7 per 1,000 

persons age 16 or older, compared to 11.2 per 1,000 in 

2005-10. Among persons not employed, the rate of violent 

victimization by strangers was 12.5 per 1,000 persons age 16 

or older in 1993-98, compared to 6.5 per 1,000 in 

2005-10. Across all time periods, employed persons had 

a lower average annual rate of violent victimization by 

strangers in the workplace than outside of the workplace.

Urban residents experienced higher rates of violent 

victimization by strangers 

Persons in urban areas had consistently higher rates of 

violent victimization by strangers than persons in suburban 

and rural areas (table 4). In 1993-98, the average annual rate 

of violent victimization by strangers for urban areas was 42.1 

per 1,000 persons, compared to 29.2 per 1,000 in suburban 

areas and 17.3 per 1,000 in rural areas. The rate of violent 

victimization by strangers decreased in urban, suburban, 

and rural locations in each time periods. In 2005-10, the 

average annual rates of violent victimization by strangers 

were slightly lower in all localities than the rates of violent 

victimization by offenders known to the victims.

Table 3

Workplace and nonworkplace violent victimization 

committed by strangers, by victim employment status, 

1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Victim employment status

Average annual rate per 

1,000 persons age 16 or older

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Employed 36.7 17.3 11.2

At work/on duty 15.6 6.4 4.2

Not at work/on duty 21.1 10.9 7.1

Not employed 12.5 6.8 6.5

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 5 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Table 4

Average annual rate of violent victimization, by victim-offender relationship and location of victim residence, 1993–1998, 

1999–2004, and 2005–2010 

Location of victim residence 

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims*

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 30.4 14.4 9.9 35.2 18.7 13.8

Urban 42.1 20.1 13.7 38.3 21.0 15.4

Suburban 29.2 13.2 8.5 34.3 16.9 11.8

Rural 17.3 9.1 6.9 33.1 19.8 16.6

Note: Rates are calculated per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See 

appendix table 6 for standard errors.

*Includes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 5

Persons residing in places with larger populations had 

higher rates of violent victimization by strangers 

In 2005-10, places with populations of less than 50,000 had 

the lowest rate of violence by strangers (7.9 per 1,000) 

(table 5). Places with populations of 250,000 or more had 

similar rates of violence by strangers, ranging from 12.9 to 

16.2 victimizations per 1,000. From 1999-04 to 2005-10, for 

every population size, the rate of violent victimization by 

strangers declined.

In 2005-10, in places with populations of 249,999 or less, 

the rate of violence by strangers was lower than the rate of 

violence by persons known to the victims. In places with 

populations of 500,000 or more, the rate of violence by 

strangers was higher than the rate of violence by persons 

known to the victims in 2005-10.

A higher proportion of violent victimization by 

strangers occurred in public places than in private 

places

In 2005-10, among violence committed by strangers more 

than half (51%) of the victimizations occurred in public 

places, including in commercial locations (14%), parking 

lots or garages (9%), and on streets, public transportation 

and other open areas (such as public parks) (27%) (table 

6). About a quarter of violent victimization by strangers 

occurred in private places, such as the victim’s or 

neighbor’s home. The average annual percentage of violent 

victimization by strangers occurring in private places 

increased from about 17% in 1993-98 to 26% in 2005-10.

Table 5

Average annual rate of violent victimization, by victim-offender relationship and population where victim lived, 1999–2004 

and 2005–2010

Population size

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims*

1999–2004 2005–2010 1999–2004 2005–2010

Less than 50,000 11.8 7.9 18.2 13.8

50,000 to 249,999 18.0 12.9 19.6 14.8

250,000 to 499,999 21.7 14.4 19.6 17.4

500,000 to 999,999 24.2 16.2 30.5 12.6

1,000,000 or more 20.1 13.2 14.0 9.2

Note: Rates are calculated per 1,000 persons age 12 or older. Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Study 

period starts with 1999, because earlier population data would not be comparable. (See Methodology for more detail.) See appendix table 7 for standard errors. 

*Includes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1999–2010.

Table 6

Average annual percent and number of violent victimizations, by victim-offender relationship and location of crime, 

1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Location of crime

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victimsa

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Private places 17.2% 21.7% 25.9% 51.8% 51.9% 60.1%

Victim’s home or lodging 2.1 3.4 4.8 28.2 27.1 35.9

Near victim’s home 9.6 13.5 15.9 13.5 14.1 15.0

In/at/near friend’s/neighbor’s/relative’s home 5.5 4.8 5.2 10.1 10.8 9.2

Public places 58.2% 57.5% 50.8% 21.2% 19.9% 17.6%

Commercial place 16.7 18.4 14.3 9.4 9.2 8.3

Parking lot/garage 10.0 10.3 9.3 3.5 3.4 2.6

Open area/on street/public transportationb 31.5 28.8 27.2 8.3 7.3 6.7

School 9.2% 8.2% 9.4% 18.9% 20.0% 14.5%

Otherc 15.4% 12.6% 13.9% 8.1% 8.3% 7.8%

Average annual number 6,585,670 3,349,520 2,475,450 7,618,640 4,332,830 3,450,060

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 8 for standard errors.

aIncludes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. 

bIncludes locations such as an apartment yard; park, field, playground, other than on school property; a location on the street other than that immediately adjacent to 

victim’s home or home of a friend, relative, or neighbor; on public transportation or in a station or depot for bus or train; on a plane; or in an airport. 

cIncludes any other location not otherwise classified.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 6

A larger percentage of violent crime in public places was 

committed by strangers than in private places. In 2005-10, 

strangers committed 62% of violent victimizations that 

occurred in public places (table 7). In private places, about 

23% of violent victimizations were committed by strangers, 

including about 9% of violent victimizations that occurred in 

the victim’s home. 

Between 1993-98 and 1999-04, the percentage of violence 

in private places committed by strangers increased slightly, 

while the percentage occurring in public places decreased 

slightly. Between 1999-04 and 2005-10, the percentage of 

violent victimization occurring in private places that was 

committed by strangers remained stable, the percentage 

occurring in public places decreased, and the percentage 

occurring in school increased.

In 2005-10, about half of violent victimizations by 

strangers occurred while the victims were away from 

home traveling, shopping or doing leisure activities 

During the three time periods, between 47% and 49% of 

victimizations committed by strangers occurred while the 

victim was traveling, shopping, or participating in leisure 

activities away from home. The average annual percentage 

of violent victimization committed by strangers while the 

victim was doing activities at home increased slightly over 

the three periods, as it did for victimizations by offenders 

known to their victims (table 8). In both cases, the average 

annual number of victimizations declined over time (not 

shown in table). In 1993-98, the percentage of violent 

victimizations by strangers that occurred while the victim 

was doing activities at home (about 8%) was lower than the 

percentage of violent victimizations by strangers occurring 

at work (about 33%). By comparison, in 2005-10, 14% of 

violent victimizations by strangers occurred while the victim 

was sleeping or doing other activities at home, while about 

26% occurred while the victim was working. 

Table 7

Percent of violent victimization occurring in various locations 

that were committed by strangers, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, 

and 2005–2010

Location of crime 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Private places 21.8% 23.7% 22.5%

Victim’s home or lodging 6.1 8.7 8.6

Near victim’s home 36.9 41.0 40.4

In/at/near friend’s/neighbor’s/

 relative’s home 31.3 24.7 26.5

Public places 68.7% 66.4% 61.9%

Commercial place 59.1 59.1 51.2

Parking lot/garage 69.2 67.4 65.7

Open area/on street/

 public transportationa 75.0 71.7 68.1

School 29.2% 23.4% 29.2%

Otherb 60.8 52.3 54.4

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 9 for standard errors.

aIncludes locations such as an apartment yard; park, field, playground, other 

than on school property; a location on the street other than that immediately 

adjacent to victim’s home or home of a friend, relative, or neighbor; on public 

transportation or in a station or depot for bus or train; on a plane; or in an airport.

bIncludes any location not otherwise classified.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Table 8

Average annual percent and number of violent victimizations, by victim-offender relationship and victim activity when crime 

occurred, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Victim activity

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victimsa

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Working 32.7 28.2 25.5 17.0 16.1 14.3

Traveling, shopping, and leisure activitiesb 47.1 48.2 49.4 26.5 25.5 25.6

Attending school 5.6 4.6 6.7 12.4 13.6 10.6

Sleeping and other activities at home 8.3 12.4 14.2 35.7 37.7 43.6

Other 6.1 6.4 4.1 7.5 6.4 4.4

Do not know 0.2 0.3 ! 0.1 ! 0.9 0.6 1.6

Average annual number 6,585,670 3,349,520 2,475,450 7,618,640 4,332,830 3,450,060

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 10 for standard errors.

! Interpret with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer cases or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.

aIncludes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

bIncludes traveling to and from work, school, or other places; shopping or running errands; and leisure activities away from home.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 7

Violent victimizations were more likely to involve 

firearms when the offender was a stranger

In 2005-10, the average annual percentage of violent 

victimizations by strangers involving a weapon was 

about 26%, a decline from 30% in 1993-98 (table 9). In 

each period, the average annual percentage of violent 

victimizations involving a weapon was higher among crimes 

committed by strangers than among those committed by 

someone the victim knew. In 2005-10, 10% of violent crimes 

committed by strangers involved a firearm compared to 5% 

of crimes committed by offenders known to the victim.

Victims were less likely to be injured during a violent 

victimization when the offender was a stranger

In 2005-10, about 22% of victims of violence by strangers 

were injured, compared to 31% of victims who knew 

the offenders (table 10). For each time period, a smaller 

percentage of victims of violence by strangers were injured 

compared to victims who knew the violent offenders. The 

percentage of victims injured by strangers increased between 

1993-98 (18%) and 2005-10 (22%). 

In 2005-10, a similar percentage (4%) of violent 

victimizations involving a serious injury (such as gunshot 

wounds, knife wounds, internal injuries, unconsciousness, 

broken bones, and other injuries that required 

hospitalization for more than 2 days) was committed by 

strangers and by persons the victims knew.

Table 9

Average annual percent and number of violent victimizations involving a weapon, by victim-offender relationship and type of 

weapon, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Type of offender weapon 

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victimsa

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

No Weapon 59.3% 60.9% 63.5% 76.5% 77.2% 77.0%

Weapon 29.9% 28.3% 26.4% 18.4% 17.7% 18.7%

Firearm 12.3 10.4 10.4 4.2 3.2 4.5

Knife 6.8 7.1 6.7 5.4 6.5 6.0

Other Weapon 9.6 9.5 8.2 7.3 6.7 6.8

Unknownb 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.5

Did not know if offender had weapon 10.8% 10.8% 10.1% 5.1% 5.0% 4.3%

Average annual number 6,585,670 3,349,520 2,475,450 7,618,640 4,332,830 3,450,060

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 11 for standard errors.

aIncludes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

bRespondent believed the offender had a weapon but did not know what type.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010

Table 10 

Average annual percent and number of violent victimizations involving an injury, by victim-offender relationship, 1993–1998, 

1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victimsa

Injury type 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Not injured 82.5% 79.9% 78.2% 69.7% 69.9% 69.3%

Injured 17.5% 20.1% 21.8% 30.3% 30.1% 30.7%

Serious injuryb 2.6 3.2 3.8 2.9 2.5 4.3

Minor injuryc 14.6 16.2 17.4 25.6 26.0 25.2

Rape w/o other injuries 0.3 0.7 0.6 1.9 1.7 1.3

Average annual number 6,581,900 3,340,740 2,473,820 7,609,930 4,321,700 3,438,960

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Average annual numbers may differ from other tables due to 

missing data. See appendix table 12 for standard errors. 

aIncludes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

bIncludes gunshot wounds, knife wounds, internal injuries, unconsciousness, broken bones, and undetermined injuries that required hospitalization for more than 2 

days.

cIncludes bruises, cuts, and other undetermined injuries that required hospitalization for less than 2 days.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 8

Multiple offenders were more likely to be involved 

in violent victimizations by strangers than in 

victimizations by offenders known to the victims 

In 2005-10, 29% of violent victimization by strangers 

involved multiple offenders, compared to 12% of violent 

victimizations by offenders known to the victim 

(table 11). In each time period, the average annual 

percentage of violent victimizations by multiple strangers 

was more than twice that of incidents with multiple 

offenders known to the victim. While the percentage of 

stranger victimizations with multiple offenders decreased 

between 1993-98 and 1999-04, it remained relatively stable 

over time. 

Reporting to the police of violent victimizations 

committed by strangers fluctuated from 1993 to 2010

In 2010, more than half (55%) of violent victimizations 

by strangers were reported to police. From 1993 to 2010, 

the percentage of violence committed by strangers that 

was reported to police fluctuated over the 18-year period, 

ranging from 42% to 58% (figure 3). The percentage of 

violent victimizations committed by persons known to the 

victims that was reported to police varied between 36% and 

49% during the same period. The percentages of reporting 

to police for both violent victimizations by strangers and 

known offenders converged over time. 

Table 11

Average annual percent and number of violent victimizations, by victim-offender relationship and number of offenders, 

1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims*

Number of offenders 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

One 70.4 73.3 71.5 88.4 89.3 88.1

Two or more offenders 29.6 26.7 28.5 11.6 10.7 11.9

Average annual number 6,439,990 3,270,820 2,454,370 7,518,940 4,311,670 3,426,580

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Average annual numbers may differ from other tables due to 

missing data. See appendix table 13 for standard errors.

*Includes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Oenders knowna

Strangers

'10'09'08'07'06b '05'04'03'02'01'00'99'98'97'96'95'94'93

Percent of violent victimizations

Figure 3

Percent of violent victimizations committed by strangers 

or offenders known to the victim and reported to police, 

1993–2010

Note: Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated 

assault, and simple assault. See appendix table 14 for percents and standard 

errors. 

aIncludes intimate partners, relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

bThe 2006 estimate is not shown due to methodological changes in the 2006 

NCVS. See Criminal Victimization, 2007, NCJ 224390, BJS website, December 2008, 

for more information. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 9

About a third of violent victimization by strangers was 

dealt with in some way other than reporting to the 

police 

The average annual percentage of violent victimization 

by strangers that was dealt with in some way other than 

reporting to the police remained stable from 1993-98 to 

2005-10 (table 12). The percentage of victimizations by 

strangers not reported to police because the respondent 

thought it was not important enough increased from 30% 

in 1993-98 to 34% in 2005-10. In each time period, the 

percentage of violent victimization by strangers that was 

dealt with in another way was lower than that for violent 

victimization by an offender known to the victim.

From 2005 to 2008, at least 43% of homicides by 

strangers occurred during a robbery or argument

From 1993 to 2008, the annual percentage of homicides 

for which the relationship between the victim and offender 

was known varied between 53% and 62%, according to the 

FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports (figure 4). Among 

homicides in which the relationship could be determined, 

between 21% and 27% of homicides were committed by 

strangers and between 73% and 79% were committed by 

offenders known to the victims (not shown in table). If the 

victim-offender relationship was known for all homicides, it 

is likely the percentage of stranger homicides would increase 

slightly.

Table 12

Average annual percent and number of violent victimizations not reported to police, by victim-offender relationship and 

reason for not reporting, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Reason incident was not reported to police

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victimsa

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Dealt with another wayb 33.6 34.8 31.0 47.5 53.6 46.2

Not important enough to respondentc 30.3 33.3 34.1 20.6 18.4 17.8

Police couldn’t do anythingd 7.9 7.6 7.8 0.7 1.2 1.4

Police wouldn’t helpe 14.4 12.1 18.5 11.3 10.0 17.4

Other reasonf 31.8 32.4 28.4 36.7 36.4 39.1

Do not know why it was not reported 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.8 0.8 1.1

Average annual number 3,451,440 1,510,100 1,243,920 4,652,780 2,390,640 1,870,180

Note: Percentages sum to more than 100% due to allowance of more than one reason. Violent victimization includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, 

and simple assault. See appendix table 15 for standard errors.

aIncludes intimate partners (former or current spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend), relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

bIncludes cases reported to another official and cases in which the victims did not report a crime to police because they considered the event a private or personal 

matter.

cIncludes cases victims did not report to police because they considered it a minor crime, the crime was committed by a child, or the victim was not certain a crime had 

occurred.

dIncludes cases in which victims did report to police because they did not find out until too late, thought they could not recover or identify property, or lacked proof.

eIncludes cases in which victims believed police wouldn’t think it was important enough, police would be inefficient, police would be biased, or offender was a police 

officer.

f

Includes cases in which victims were protecting the offender, were advised not to report to police, feared reprisal, considered reporting too inconvenient, thought 

insurance would not cover loss, and other reasons.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Oenders known*

Unknown relationships

Strangers

'08'07'06'05'04'03'02'01'00'99'98'97'96'95'94'93

Percent of homicides

Figure 4

Victim-offender relationship in homicides, 1993–2008

Note: See appendix table 16 for percents.

*Includes intimate partners, relatives, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 

Uniform Crime Reports, 1993–2008.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 10

Robbery and arguments over something other than money 

were the most common circumstances of homicide by a 

stranger (table 13). From 2005 to 2008, 19% of all stranger 

homicides were committed during a robbery, while 

about 24% of stranger homicides were committed during 

arguments over something other than money. About 21% 

of stranger homicides were committed under circumstances 

unknown to the police.

Table 13

Circumstances of stranger homicide, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, 

and 2005–2008

Average annual percentage of stranger homicides

Circumstance 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2008

Total 100% 100% 100%

Rape 0.7 0.6 0.4

Robbery 28.0 21.5 19.3

Burglary 1.7 1.6 1.3

Larceny 0.4 0.4 0.2

Auto theft 0.7 0.4 0.3

Arson 0.4 0.3 0.1

Prostitution 0.1 0.2 0.1

Other sex offense 0.2 0.1 0.1

Narcotics laws 4.7 3.8 3.5

Gambling 0.1 0.1 0.0!

Other felony 1.9 3.1 3.9

Lovers triangle 0.8 0.6 0.5

Brawl under alcohol 1.9 1.9 1.5

Brawl under drugs 0.8 0.5 0.5

Argument over money 1.0 0.9 1.1

Other arguments 24.3 26.7 23.8

Gangland killing 0.9 0.9 1.0

Youth gang killing 7.8 8.3 8.4

Other* 11.3 11.6 13.0

Suspected felony 0.7 0.2 0.3

Unknown 11.8 16.5 20.7

Average annual number 2,796 2,014 2,118

*Includes institutional killings, sniper attacks, and homicides that occurred under 

undefined circumstances.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Supplementary Homicide Reports, 

Uniform Crime Reporting Program, 1993-2008.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 11

Methodology

The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is an 

annual data collection conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau 

for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The NCVS is a selfreport survey in which interviewed persons are asked about 

the number and characteristics of victimizations experienced 

during the prior six months. The NCVS collects information 

on nonfatal personal crimes (rape or sexual assault, robbery, 

aggravated assault, and simple assault, and personal larceny) 

and property crimes (burglary, motor vehicle theft, and 

other theft) both reported and not reported to police. In 

addition to providing annual level and change estimates 

on criminal victimization, the NCVS is the primary source 

of information on the nature of criminal victimization 

incidents. Survey respondents provide information about 

themselves (such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, marital 

status, education level, and income) and whether they 

experienced victimization. Information are collected for 

each victimization incident about the offender (such as age, 

race and ethnicity, sex, and victim-offender relationship), 

characteristics of the crime (including time and place of 

occurrence, use of weapons, nature of injury, and economic 

consequences), whether the crime was reported to police, 

reasons why the crime was or was not reported, and 

experiences with the criminal justice system. 

The NCVS is administered to persons age 12 or older from 

a nationally representative sample of households in the 

United States. The NCVS defines a household as a group 

of members who all reside at a sampled address. Persons 

are considered household members when the sampled 

address is their usual place of residence at the time of the 

interview and when they have no usual place of residence 

elsewhere. Once selected, households remain in the sample 

for three years, and eligible persons in these households are 

interviewed every six months for a total of seven interviews. 

New households rotate into the sample on an ongoing basis 

to replace outgoing households that have been in the sample 

for the three-year period. The sample includes persons 

living in group quarters, such as dormitories, rooming 

houses, and religious group dwellings, and excludes persons 

living in military barracks and institutional settings, such 

as correctional or hospital facilities, and the homeless. 

(For more detail, see the Survey Methodology in Criminal 

Victimization in the United States, 2008, NCJ 231173, BJS 

website, May 2011.)

From 2005 to 2010, a total of 835,000 persons from about 

472,000 households were interviewed. This equates to an 

annual average of 139,000 persons age 12 or older in 76,000 

households interviewed each year from 2005 to 2010. In 

2010, about 41,000 households and 73,300 persons age 12 or 

older were interviewed for the NCVS. Each household was 

interviewed twice during the year. The response rate was 

92.3% of households and 87.5% of eligible individuals.

Victimizations that occurred outside of the United States 

were excluded from this report. From 1993 to 2010, 

about 1% of about 42,000 unweighted nonfatal violent 

victimizations occurred outside of the United States and was 

excluded from the analysis.

Weighting adjustments for estimating personal 

victimization

Estimates in this report use data from the 1993 to 2010 

NCVS data files. These files are weighted to produce annual 

estimates of victimization for persons age 12 or older living 

in U.S. households. Because the NCVS relies on a sample 

rather than a census of the entire U.S. population, weights 

are designed to inflate sample point estimates to known 

population totals and to compensate for survey nonresponse 

and other aspects of the sample design. 

The NCVS data files include both person and household 

weights. Person weights provide an estimate of the 

population represented by each person in the sample. 

Household weights provide an estimate of the total U.S. 

household population. Person weights are most frequently 

used to compute estimates of criminal victimizations of 

persons in the total population. Both household and person 

weights, after proper adjustment, are also used to form the 

denominator in calculations of crime rates.

Victimization weights used in this analysis account for the 

number of persons present during an incident and for repeat 

victims of series incidents. The weight counts series incidents 

as the actual number of incidents reported by the victim, 

up to a maximum of 10 incidents. Series victimizations are 

similar in type but occur with such frequency that a victim 

is unable to recall the details of each individual event. Survey 

procedures allow NCVS interviewers to identify and classify 

these similar victimizations as series victimizations and to 

collect detailed information on only the most recent incident 

in the series. 

In 2010, about 3% of all victimizations were series incidents. 

Weighting series incidents as the number of incidents up to 

a maximum of 10 incidents produces more reliable estimates 

of crime levels, while the cap at 10 minimizes the effect of 

extreme outliers on the rates. Additional information on 

the series enumeration is detailed in the report Methods 

for Counting High Frequency Repeat Victimizations in the 

National Crime Victimization Survey, NCJ 237308, BJS 

website, April 2012.

Standard error computations

When national estimates are derived from a sample, as 

is the case with the NCVS, caution must be taken when 

comparing one estimate to another estimate or when 

comparing estimates over time. Although one estimate may 

be larger than another, estimates based on a sample have 

some degree of sampling error. The sampling error of an 
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 12

estimate depends on several factors, including the amount 

of variation in the responses, the size of the sample, and the 

size of the subgroup for which the estimate is computed. 

When the sampling error around the estimates is taken into 

consideration, the estimates that appear different may, in 

fact, not be statistically different.

One measure of the sampling error associated with an 

estimate is the standard error. The standard error can vary 

from one estimate to the next. In general, for a given metric, 

an estimate with a smaller standard error provides a more 

reliable approximation of the true value than an estimate 

with a larger standard error. Estimates with relatively large 

standard errors are associated with less precision and 

reliability and should be interpreted with caution.

In order to generate standard errors around estimates 

from the NCVS, the Census Bureau produces generalized 

variance function (GVF) parameters for BJS. The GVFs take 

into account aspects of the NCVS complex sample design 

and represent the curve fitted to a selection of individual 

standard errors based on the Jackknife Repeated Replication 

technique. The GVF parameters were used to generate 

standard errors for each point estimate (such as counts, 

percentages, and rates) in the report. For average annual 

estimates, standard errors were based on the ratio of the 

sums of victimizations and respondents across years.

In this report, BJS conducted tests to determine whether 

differences in estimated numbers and percentages were 

statistically significant once sampling error was taken into 

account. Using statistical programs developed specifically 

for the NCVS, all comparisons in the text were tested for 

significance. The primary test procedure used was Student’s 

t-statistic, which tests the difference between two sample 

estimates. To ensure that the observed differences between 

estimates were larger than might be expected due to 

sampling variation, the significance level was set at the 95% 

confidence level.

Data users can use the estimates and the standard errors of 

the estimates provided in this report to generate a confidence 

interval around the estimate as a measure of the margin of 

error. The following example illustrates how standard errors 

can be used to generate confidence intervals:

According to the NCVS, from 2005 to 2010, 10.4% of violent 

victimization by strangers involved an offender armed with 

a firearm (see table 9). Using the GVFs, BJS determined 

that the estimate has a standard error of 0.8% (see appendix 

table 11). A confidence interval around the estimate was 

generated by multiplying the standard errors by ±1.96 (the 

t-score of a normal, two-tailed distribution that excludes 

2.5% at either end of the distribution). Thus, the confidence 

interval around the 10.4% estimate from 2005 to 2010 is 

10.4% ± 1.57% (0.8% X 1.96) or (8.83% to 11.97%). In others 

words, if different samples using the same procedures were 

taken from the U.S. population in from 2005 to 2010, 95% of 

the time the percentage of violent victimization by strangers 

involving an offender armed with a firearm would fall 

between 8.83 and 11.97%.

In this report, BJS also calculated a coefficient of variation 

(CV) for all estimates, representing the ratio of the standard 

error to the estimate. CVs provide a measure of reliability 

and a means to compare the precision of estimates across 

measures with differing levels or metrics. If it was the case 

that the CV was greater than 50%, or the unweighted sample 

had 10 or fewer cases, the estimate would have been noted 

with a “!” symbol (interpret data with caution; estimate 

is based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or the coefficient of 

variation exceeds 50%). 

Many of the variables examined in this report may be related 

to one another and to other variables not included in the 

analyses. Complex relationships among variables were not 

fully explored in this report and warrant more extensive 

analysis. Readers are cautioned not to draw causal inferences 

based on the results presented.

Methodological changes to the NCVS in 2006

Methodological changes implemented in 2006 may have 

affected the crime estimates for that year to such an extent 

that they are not comparable to estimates from other years. 

Evaluation of 2007 and later data from the NCVS conducted 

by BJS and the Census Bureau found a high degree of 

confidence that estimates for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 are 

consistent with and comparable to estimates for 2005 and 

previous years. The reports, Criminal Victimization, 2006, 

NCJ 219413, December 2007; Criminal Victimization, 2007, 

NCJ 224390, December 2008; Criminal Victimization, 2008, 

NCJ 227777, September 2009; Criminal Victimization, 2009, 

NCJ 231327, October 2010; and Criminal Victimization, 2010, 

NCJ 235508, September 2011, are available on the BJS website.

FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR)

The homicide data in this report are from the FBI’s 

Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR), which is a 

part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. 

Supplemental data about homicide incidents are submitted 

monthly with details on location, victim, and offender 

characteristics. These reports include information on the 

reporting agency and its residential population, county 

and Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) codes, geographic 

division, and population group; on the age, race, and 

sex of victims and offenders; and on the victim-offender 

relationship, weapon use, and circumstance of the crime. 

From 1980 to 2008, contributing agencies provided 

supplemental data for 508,568 of the estimated 565,636 

homicides.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 13

Appendix table 1

Standard errors for rate of violent victimization committed 

by strangers and offenders known to victims, 1993–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

Year Rate Standard error Rate Standard error 

1993 37.7 1.4 39.4 1.4

1994 36.3 1.0 40.8 1.1

1995 32.8 1.0 35.3 1.0

1996 28.8 0.9 33.0 1.0

1997 25.2 0.9 33.8 1.1

1998 22.5 1.0 29.3 1.1

1999 19.4 0.8 26.2 1.0

2000 16.8 0.8 19.0 0.8

2001 13.3 0.6 18.0 0.8

2002 13.4 0.6 16.9 0.7

2003 13.0 0.6 17.0 0.8

2004 11.1 0.6 15.3 0.7

2005 11.6 0.6 14.7 0.7

2006 12.9 0.7 18.3 0.8

2007 10.8 0.6 13.6 0.7

2008 8.5 0.5 13.2 0.7

2009 8.5 0.5 12.4 0.7

2010 7.1 0.5 10.5 0.6

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Appendix table 2

Standard errors for violent victimization committed by 

strangers, by type of crime, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 

2005–2010 

Type of crime

Average annual percent

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total violent crime 0.6% 0.7% 0.9%

Serious violent crime 0.8% 1.1% 1.4%

Rape/sexual assault 1.7 2.1 2.9

Robbery 1.4 1.8 2.3

Aggravated assault 1.0 1.4 1.8

Simple assault 0.6% 0.8% 1.0%

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Appendix table 3

Standard errors for rate of violent victimization committed 

by strangers, by sex of victim, 1993–2010

Male Female

Year Rate Standard error Rate Standard error

1993 56.9 2.2 19.6 1.1

1994 53.5 1.7 20.1 0.9

1995 50.0 1.6 16.8 0.8

1996 44.3 1.5 14.3 0.8

1997 36.1 1.4 14.9 0.8

1998 35.2 1.6 10.6 0.7

1999 26.5 1.3 12.9 0.8

2000 24.3 1.2 9.7 0.7

2001 18.7 1.0 8.2 0.6

2002 19.2 1.0 7.9 0.6

2003 18.7 1.0 7.6 0.6

2004 15.1 0.9 7.2 0.6

2005 16.7 1.0 6.8 0.6

2006 18.3 1.1 7.7 0.6

2007 15.6 1.0 6.3 0.5

2008 11.6 0.8 5.7 0.5

2009 11.2 0.8 6.0 0.5

2010 9.5 0.7 4.7 0.5

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Homicide as defined here includes murder and nonnegligent 

manslaughter, which is the willful killing of one human 

being by another. The general analyses excluded deaths 

caused by negligence, suicide, or accident; justifiable 

homicides; and attempts to murder. Justifiable homicides 

based on the reports of law enforcement agencies are 

analyzed separately. Deaths from the terrorist attacks 

of September 11, 2001, are not included in any of the 

analyses. These homicide data are based solely on police 

investigation, as opposed to the determination of a court, 

medical examiner, coroner, jury, or other judicial body. 

Not all agencies that report offense information to the FBI 

also submit supplemental data on homicides. About 91% 

of homicides reported in the UCR are included in the SHR. 

To account for the total number of homicides, this analysis 

weighted the total number of homicide victims included in 

the SHR data to match national and state estimates of the 

total number of homicide victims prepared by the FBI. All 

homicide analyses in this report are adjusted in this manner.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 14

Appendix table 4

Standard errors for violent victimization committed by 

strangers, by victim characteristics, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, 

and 2005–2010

Victim characteristic

Average annual rate

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 0.6 0.3 0.3

Race/Hispanic origin

White 0.6 0.4 0.3

Black/African American 1.2 0.8 0.9

Hispanic/Latino 1.4 0.8 0.7

American Indian/Alaska 

 Native 7.0 6.0 5.3

Asian/Pacific Islander 1.9 0.9 2.4

Two or more races : : 3.9

Age 

12–17 1.7 1.0 1.0

18–24 1.8 1.2 1.0

25–34 1.2 0.8 0.8

35–49 0.8 0.5 0.5

50–64 0.7 0.5 0.4

65 or older 0.3 0.2 0.2

Annual household income

Less than $7,500 1.7 1.7 2.0

$7,500 to $14,999 1.3 1.0 1.3

$15,000 to $24,999 1.1 0.8 1.0

$25,000 to $34,999 1.2 0.8 0.9

$35,000 to $49,999 1.1 0.7 0.7

$50,000 to $74,999 1.2 0.7 0.7

$75,000 or more 1.2 0.6 0.5

Unknown 1.0 0.5 0.5

Marital status

Never married 1.2 0.7 0.7

Married 0.5 0.3 0.3

Widowed 0.6 0.5 0.4

Divorced or separated 1.5 0.9 0.9

Educational level

Less than high school 1.1 0.8 0.8

High school graduate 0.7 0.5 0.4

At least some college 0.8 0.5 0.4

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Appendix table 5

Standard errors for workplace and nonworkplace 

violent victimization committed by strangers, by victim 

employment status, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Average annual rate per 

1,000 persons age 16 or older

Victim employment status 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Employed 0.7 0.4 0.4

At work/on duty 0.4 0.2 0.2

Not at work/on duty 0.5 0.3 0.3

Not employed 0.5 0.3 0.4

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 15

Appendix table 6

Standard errors for average annual rate of violent victimization, by victim-offender relationship and location of victim 

residence, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010 

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

Location of victim residence 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Total 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.4

Urban 1.0 0.7 0.6 1.0 0.7 0.6

Suburban 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.4

Rural 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.8 0.8

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

Appendix table 7

Standard errors for average annual rate of violent victimization, by victim-offender relationship and population where victim 

lived, 1999–2004 and 2005–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

Population size 1999–2004 2005–2010 1999–2004 2005–2010

Less than 50,000 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5

50,000 to 249,999 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8

250,000 to 499,999 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5

500,000 to 999,999 1.7 1.5 1.9 1.3

1,000,000 or more 1.2 1.1 0.9 0.9

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1999–2010.

Appendix table 8

Standard errors for average annual percent and number of violent victimizations, by victim-offender relationship and location 

of crime, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Location of crime

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Private places 0.5% 0.8% 1.1% 0.7% 0.9% 1.2%

Victim’s home or lodging 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.1

Near victim’s home 0.4 0.6 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.8

In/at/near friend’s/neighbor’s/relative’s home 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.6

Public places 0.7% 1.0% 1.3% 0.5% 0.7% 0.8%

Commercial establishment 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.6

Parking lot/garage 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.3

Open area/on street/public transportation 0.7 0.9 1.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

School 0.4% 0.5% 0.7% 0.5% 0.7% 0.8%

Other 0.5% 0.6% 0.9% 0.3% 0.4% 0.6%

Average annual number 240,500 158,628 142,541 263,182 185,032 165,443

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

Appendix table 9

Standard errors for percent of violent victimizations occurring in various locations that were committed by strangers, 

1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Percentage of violent victimization

Location of crime 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Private places 0.6% 0.8% 1.0%

Victim’s home or lodging 0.5 0.8 0.9

Near victim’s home 1.2 1.5 1.9

In/at/near friend’s/neighbor’s/relative’s home 1.4 1.6 2.3

Public places 0.8% 1.0% 1.4%

Commercial place 1.2 1.6 2.3

Parking lot/garage 1.5 2.0 3.0

Open area/on street/public transportation 0.9 1.3 1.9

School 1.1% 1.2% 1.9%

Other 1.3% 1.8% 2.4%

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 16

Appendix table 10

Standard errors for average annual percent and number of violent victimizations, by victim-offender relationship and victim 

activity when crime occurred, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Victim activity

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Working 0.7% 0.9% 1.1% 0.5% 0.6% 0.8%

Traveling, shopping, and leisure activities away from home 0.7 1.0 1.3 0.6 0.7 1.0

Attending school 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.7

Sleeping and other activities at home 0.4 0.6 0.9 0.7 0.8 1.2

Other 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.4

Do not know 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

Average annual number 240,500 158,628 142,541 263,182 185,032 165,443

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

Appendix table 11

Standard errors for average annual percent and number of violent victimizations involving a weapon, by victim-offender 

relationship and type of offender weapon, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Type of offender weapon 

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

No weapon 0.7% 1.0% 1.3% 0.6% 0.8% 1.0%

Weapon 0.7% 0.9% 1.1% 0.5% 0.6% 0.9%

Firearm 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.4

Knife 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.5

Other Weapon 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.5

Unknown 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2

Did not know if offender had weapon 0.4% 0.6% 0.7% 0.3% 0.3% 0.4%

Average annual number 240,500 158,628 142,541 263,182 185,032 165,443

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

Appendix table 12

Standard errors for average annual percent of violent victimizations involving an injury, by victim-offender relationship, 

1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Injury type

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Not injured 0.6% 0.8% 1.1% 0.7% 0.8% 1.1%

Injured 0.5% 0.7% 1.1% 0.6% 0.8% 1.1%

Serious injury 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.4

Minor injury 0.5 0.7 1.0 0.6 0.7 1.0

Rape w/o other injuries 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Average annual number 240,415 158,380 142,497 262,996 184,747 165,216

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.

Appendix table 13

Standard errors for average annual percent and number of violent victimizations, by victim-offender relationship and number 

of offenders, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

Number of offenders 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

One 0.7% 0.9% 1.2% 0.5% 0.6% 0.8%

Two or more 0.7 0.8 1.2 0.4 0.5 0.7

Average annual number 237,209 156,400 141,973 261,040 184,489 164,961

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 17

Appendix table 14

Percentages and standard errors for percent of violent 

victimizations committed by strangers or offenders known 

to victim that was reported to police, 1993–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

Year Percentage Standard error Percentage Standard error

1993 48.3% 1.5% 36.5% 1.4%

1994 44.1 1.2 36.4 1.1

1995 46.3 1.2 36.3 1.1

1996 43.4 1.3 38.0 1.2

1997 47.0 1.5 39.0 1.3

1998 46.6 1.7 43.3 1.5

1999 49.8 1.7 37.5 1.4

2000 50.6 1.8 42.2 1.7

2001 55.0 2.0 44.5 1.8

2002 57.9 2.0 45.3 1.8

2003 49.6 2.0 45.7 1.8

2004 54.4 2.2 47.8 1.9

2005 48.1 2.3 44.7 2.1

2006 49.2 2.2 42.5 1.9

2007 48.5 2.3 43.6 2.0

2008 45.1 2.6 48.8 2.1

2009 42.2 2.5 43.4 2.2

2010 54.7 2.7 48.0 2.3

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 

1993–2010.

Appendix table 15

Standard errors for average annual percent and number of violent victimizations not reported to police, by victim-offender 

relationship and reason for not reporting, 1993–1998, 1999–2004, and 2005–2010

Offenders were strangers Offenders were known to victims

Reason incident was not reported to police 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010 1993–1998 1999–2004 2005–2010

Dealt with another way 0.9% 1.3% 1.6% 0.9% 1.1% 1.5%

Not important enough to respondent 0.9 1.3 1.7 0.7 0.8 1.1

Police couldn’t do anything 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.2 0.3

Police wouldn’t help 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.5 0.6 1.1

Other reason 0.9 1.2 1.6 0.8 1.1 1.5

Do not know why it was not reported 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3

Average annual number 162,508 99,506 101,698 194,492 129,963 124,641

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993–2010.
VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION COMMITTED BY STRANGERS, 1993-2010 | DECEMBER 2012 18

Appendix table 16

Percents for victim/offender relationship in homicides, 

1993–2008

Total Offenders known Unknown relationships Strangers

1993 100% 45.8% 39.7% 14.5%

1994 100% 46.3 40.1 13.6

1995 100% 44.4 40.0 15.7

1996 100% 47.2 38.1 14.7

1997 100% 45.9 40.3 13.8

1998 100% 47.5 38.7 13.8

1999 100% 46.7 40.9 12.4

2000 100% 43.2 43.0 13.8

2001 100% 40.8 45.5 13.7

2002 100% 41.6 43.8 14.6

2003 100% 41.5 45.6 13.0

2004 100% 41.3 45.2 13.5

2005 100% 39.2 46.3 14.5

2006 100% 40.8 46.0 13.2

2007 100% 39.3 47.2 13.5

2008 100% 41.7 45.4 12.8

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Supplementary Homicides Reports, 

Uniform Crime Reports, 1993–2008.
Office of Justice Programs

Innovation • Partnerships • Safer Neighborhoods

www.ojp.usdoj.gov

NCJ239424

The Bureau of Justice Statistics is the statistical agency of the U.S. Department 

of Justice. James P. Lynch is the director.

This report was written by Erika Harrell. Lynn Langton verified the report.

Catherine Bird and Jill Thomas edited the report, and Barbara Quinn 

produced the report under the supervision of Doris J. James.

December 2012, NCJ 239424