What to know
There are four major data collection systems that measure sexual victimization in the U.S. These collection systems include the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), and the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR).
Data collection systems measuring sexual victimization
The United States (U.S.) federal government uses three data collection systems to measure sexual victimization:
- The Bureau of Justice Statistics' (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).
- The CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS).
In addition to data collected through self-reported surveys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Summary Reporting System (SRS) also includes national data on rapes that are reported to law enforcement. Because the UCR data are generally based on the actual counts of offenses reported by law enforcement jurisdictions, they differ from estimates derived from surveys in that they exclude victimizations that are not reported to police. Each of the three surveys and the UCR has strengths and limitations in the types of information that can be provided. Collectively, they present a complementary and more comprehensive picture of sexual victimization in the U.S.
What the surveys mean
The surveys are designed for different purposes, focus on different populations, and collect different types of information. They also differ in how questions about sexual victimization are asked and what types of victimization are included.
Recognizing the strengths and limitations of each collection and when each should be utilized is beneficial for building a stronger understanding of the magnitude and nature of sexual victimization in the US. Understanding the magnitude and nature of sexual victimization is an important step to preventing it.
- This content was written by Kathleen C. Basile, PhD Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lynn Langton, PhD Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Leah K. Gilbert, MD Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Findings and conclusions presented are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).