American Indians and Crime: Bureau of Justice Statistics

U.S.
Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
American Indians
and Crime
Average annual number of violent victimizations per 1,000

persons age 12 or older, 1992-96
The rate for American Indians (124 violent crimes per 1,000
American Indians) was more than twice the rate for the Nation
(50 per 1,000 persons)
Number of violent victimizations per

1,000 persons age 12 or older*
*The annual av erage murder rate is per 100,000 residents of all ages.
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20531
Janet Reno
Attorney General
Raymond C. Fisher
Associate Attorney General
Laurie Robinson
Assistant Attorney General
No11l Brennan
Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D.

Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics

World Wide Web Homepage:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov

World Wide Web Homepage:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
For information contact:

BJS Clearinghouse
1-800-732-3277
U.S. Department of Justice
American Indians
and Crime
By Lawrence A. Greenfeld
and Steven K. Smith
BJS Statisticians
February 1999, NCJ 173386

U.S. Department of Justice Contents
Bureau of Justice Statistics Foreword iii
Highlights v
Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D.
Measuring criminal victimization
Director
among American Indians 1
Types of violent crime 3
Lawrence A. Greenfeld and Sex, age, and location of residence
Steven Smith, BJS statisticians, of victims of violent crime 4
wrote this report. Household income of victims
of violent crime 5
Devon Adams and Todd Minton Victim-offender relationship 6
provided the statistical Race of offender 7
review. Intimate and family violence 8
Maureen Henneberg, John Alcohol, drugs, and crime 9
Scalia, Jodi Brown, and Tracy Location of violent crime 10
Snell provided analytic Time of violent crime and
assistance and comment. crime in the workplace 11
Weapons and self-protective
Norena Henry commented on measures used in violent crime 12
drafts of the report. Injury rates, hospitalization, and
Melvinda Pete and Tom Hester financial loss 13
produced the report. Child abuse and neglect 15
Reporting violent crime
Marilyn Marbrook, assisted by to the police 16
Yvonne Boston, prepared the Arrests of offenders and services
report for final publication. to victims 17
Race and ethnicity
in violent victimization 18
Murder among American Indians 19
This report and its data are Circumstances of murder 21
available on the Internet: Murder victim-offender relationship 22
Race of murderers 22
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/ Murder weapons 23
Arrests and convictions
The National Archive of of American Indians 24
Criminal Justice Data also Felony convictions in State courts 25
offers the data for the National American Indians under
Crime Victimization Survey, correctional supervision 26
the Survey of Inmates in Offenses charged in
Local Jails, and the Surveys U.S. district courts 30
of Inmates in State or Federal American Indians and the death
Correctional Facilities: penalty 31
American Indian tribal
http://www.ojp.icpsr.umich.edu/ criminal justice 32
NACJD/home.html Sources of data on American Indians
and crime 34
Tables for the graphical figures 38
ii American Indians and Crime

Foreword This report is the first step in a vigorous
BJS effort to document issues of crime
This report represents a compilation and and justice affecting American Indians.
new analysis of data on the effects and Statistical programs have been instituted
consequences of violent crime among to learn more about tribal criminal justice
American Indians. The report uses data agencies, such as law enforcement and
from a wide variety of sources, including confinement facilities, and these will
statistical series maintained by the Bureau complement data available from other
of Justice Statistics (BJS), the FBI, and the BJS series covering the justice system.
Bureau of the Census. Data are reported
from American Indian crime victims on how This study was prepared as a resource to
they were affected by the victimization and respond to frequent inquiries. Since the
about who victimized them. The report number of American Indians in our annual
also includes the first BJS estimates of the samples are inadequate to provide defini-
total number of American Indians under tive statistics, this report cumulates data
the custody or supervision of the justice from over a 5-year period. I hope that this
system. report will serve as a foundation for other
reports and discussions about how best to
The findings reveal a disturbing picture of address the problem of crime affecting this
American Indian involvement in crime as segment of our population.
both victims and offenders. The rate of
violent victimization estimated from BJS has undertaken improvements in the
responses by American Indians is well National Crime Victimization Survey
above that of other U.S. racial or ethnic (NCVS), designed to improve future data
subgroups and is more than twice as high collection on crime and its consequences
as the national average. This disparity in for American Indians. This year BJS
the rates of violence affecting American enhanced the NCVS to permit future
Indians occurs across age groups, housing analyses to report statistics on victimiza-
locations, income groups, and sexes. tions occurring on tribal lands. In addition,
victim descriptions of the offender were
With respect to the offender, two findings modified to permit greater precision in
are perhaps most notable: American future statistics about the victim’s percep-
Indians are more likely than people of tions of the offender’s race. Together,
other races to experience violence at the these NCVS upgrades will result in much
hands of someone of a different race, and greater detail about both locations of crime
the criminal victimizer is more likely to incidents and perpetrators.
have consumed alcohol preceding the
offense. However, the victim/offender Valuable contributions to the report were
relationships of American Indians parallel made by Norena Henry, Director of the
that of all victims of violence. American Indian/Alaska Native Affairs in
the Office of Justice Programs, and
On a given day, an estimated 1 in 25 Melvinda Pete, a BJS university student
American Indians age 18 or older is under intern. In the development of the report,
the jurisdiction of the criminal justice they helped to provide context for the
system — 2.4 times the per capita rate of statistical findings.
whites and 9.3 times the per capita rate of
Asians. But black Americans, with a per Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D.
capita rate nearly double that of American Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Indians, are more likely to be under the
care or custody of correctional authorities.
American Indians and Crime iii

Highlights
Violent victimizations*
• American Indians, experience per
All races
capita rates of violence which are more
American Indian
than twice those of the U.S. resident
Black
population.
White
Asian
0 60 120
Number of violent victimizations
per 1,000 persons age 12 or older
Murder*
• The murder rate among American
American Indian Indians is 7 per 100,000, a rate similar
Black
to that found among the general
White
population. The rate of murder among
Asian
blacks is more than 5 times that among
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Number of murders per American Indians.
100,000 persons, 1992-96
Age*
Age • Rates of violence in every age group

are higher among American Indians
12-17 than that of all races.
18-24
• Nearly a third of all American Indian
25-34 victims of violence are between ages 18
and 24. This group of American Indians
35-44 experienced the highest per capita rate
American Indians of violence of any racial group consid-
45-54
All races
ered by age & about 1 violent crime for
every 4 persons of this age.
55 or older
0 50 100 150 200 250

Rate of violent victimization
per 1,000 persons in each group
* ,
Average annual rate, 1992-96. American Indians in this report include
Alaska Natives and Aleuts. Asians
include Hawaiian Natives and Pacific
Islanders.
American Indians and Crime v

Sex*
Sex of victims • Rates of violent victimization for both

Male
males and females are higher among
American
American Indians than for all races.
Female Indians The rate of violent crime experienced
All races
0 40 80 120 160
by American Indian women is nearly
Number of violent victimizations 50% higher than that reported by black
per 1,000 persons age 12 or older males.
Offender race*
Race of victims • At least 70% of the violent victimiza-
American Indian tions experienced by American Indians
Black are committed by persons not of the
White same race — a substantially higher rate
Asian of interracial violence than experienced
0% 25% 50% 75% by white or black victims.
Percent of violent victimizations
that were interracial
Alcohol use by offender*
American Indian • American Indian victims of violence

Black were the most likely of all races of
White victims to indicate that the offender
Asian committed the offense while drinking.
0% 25% 50%
Percent of victims of violence
reporting offender drinking
Weapon use by offender

Nonlethal violence* • More than 10% of American Indian
nonlethal violent victimizations involved
American Indians a firearm. American Indian murder
Firearm
All races victims were less likely to have been
0% 5% 10% 15% murdered by a handgun than victims
Percent of of all races.
violent victimizations
Lethal violence
American Indians
Handgun
All races
0% 20% 40% 60%

Percent of murders, 1976-96
*
Average annual rate or percentage, 1992-96.
vi American Indians and Crime

Crimes reported to police*
American Indian • American Indian victims of violence

Black reported the crime to the police at about
White the average rate for all races.
Asian
0% 20% 40% 60%
reported to police
Arrests of adults and youth
Under age 18
• American Indian arrest rates for
American
Indian All ages violence among youth were about the
Black same as the rates among white youth
in 1996.
White
Asian • Violent crime arrest rates for American

Indian adults were similar to those for
0 350 700 1,050 1,400 youth. Among other racial groups,
Number of arrests for Part I violent arrest rates for adults are lower than
crimes per 100,000 persons, 1996
for youth.
Arrests for drug and alcohol

offenses
Arrests
• The 1997 arrest rate among American
American Indians
Indians for alcohol-related offenses
Drug All races (driving under the influence, liquor law
Alcohol- violations, and public drunkenness) was
related
more than double that found among all
0 1,000 2,000 3,000
races. Drug arrest rates for American
Number of arrests per
100,000 persons, 1997 Indians were lower than average.
*
Average annual percentage, 1992-96.
American Indians and Crime vii

Under correctional supervision
or control
U.S. total
• An estimated 63,000 American Indians
are under the care, custody, or control
American Indian
of the criminal justice system on an
Black average day — about 4% of the Ameri-
White can Indian population age 18 or older.
Asian
0 5,000 10,000 • On average in 1997 about 2,000
Total under correctional supervision
American Indians per 100,000 adults
or control per 100,000 adults, 1997 (persons age 18 or older) were serving
a sentence to probation, about half the
rate found among blacks.
In State or Federal prison • In 1997 about 16,000 American

Indians were held in local jails —
U.S. total a rate of 1,083 per 100,000 adults, the
American Indian highest of any racial group.
Black
White • The rate of American Indians on
parole is similar to that of the general
Asian
population, about 300 per 100,000
0 1000 2000 3000 adults.
Number in prison
per 100,000 adults, 1997
• On a per capita basis, American
Indians had a rate of prison incarcera-
tion about 38% higher than the national
rate.
Federal convictions
American Indians convicted • American Indians accounted for 1.5%
in Federal district court, of Federal case filings in U.S. district
fiscal year 1997 courts in 1997, and half of these were
for violent offenses.
Total 854 100%
Violent • 854 American Indians were convicted
Murder 81 9%
Assault 153 18
in Federal court & 9% for murder and
Robbery 22 3 20% for rape.
Rape 168 20
Other 23 3
Property 178 21
Drug 93 11
Other* 134 15
*Includes persons for whom the
offense was unknown.
viii American Indians and Crime

Measuring criminal victimization provided on American Indians in the
among American Indians criminal justice system.
American Indians have higher per The NCVS collects information on the
capita rates of violent criminal victimi- Nation's experience with crime. It also
zation than whites, blacks, or Asians collects information on the race of the
in the United States, according to data victim and the race of the offender as
from the National Crime Victimization reported by the victim.
Survey (NCVS).
The NCVS provides estimates of the
Population estimates from the Bureau violent crimes of rape, sexual assault,
of the Census for July 1, 1998, indicate robbery, and assault for persons age
that American Indians account for just 12 or older. During 1992-96 the NCVS
under 1% of the U.S. population: found that American Indians experi-
enced an average of almost 150,000
All races 270,029,000 100.0% violent crimes per year from among the
American Indian* 2,357,000 0.9 estimated 10.8 million violent crimes
White 222,932,000 82.6
occurring on average per year among
Black 34,370,000 12.7
Asian 10,370,000 3.8 all racial groups. Victimization data for
1996 indicate that American Indians
Two demographic factors distinguish accounted for about 1.4% of all violent
American Indians from other racial victimizations that year, about the
groups: in 1998 the median age of the same percentage as in preceding
American Indian population is nearly 8 years.
years younger than the U.S. resident
population, and American Indians are American Indian tribes in the
the most likely to report Hispanic United States, 1996
ethnicity.
Median Percent The indigenous peoples in the
Race age Hispanic United States belong to about 550
All races 35.2 years 11.3% federally recognized tribes that
American Indian 27.4 15.2 have a distinct history and culture
White 36.3 12.4 and often a separate language.
Black 29.9 5.0
Asian 31.2 5.8 Percent of
Tribe American Indians
Cherokee 16.4%
This report presents data on the rates Navajo 11.7
and characteristics of violent crimes, Chippewa 5.5
including murder, experienced by Sioux 5.5
American Indians. Information is also Choctaw 4.4
Pueblo 2.8
*In this report the term American Indian refers Apache 2.7
to Alaska Natives, Aleuts, and American All other tribes 51.0
Indians. The term Asian encompasses Asians, Source: U.S. Bureau of Census,
Hawaiian Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Statistical Abstract of the United
States, 1997, table 51, p. 51.
American Indians and Crime 1

Measuring criminal victimization provided on American Indians in the
among American Indians criminal justice system.
American Indians have higher per The NCVS collects information on the
capita rates of violent criminal victimi- Nation's experience with crime. It also
zation than whites, blacks, or Asians collects information on the race of the
in the United States, according to data victim and the race of the offender as
from the National Crime Victimization reported by the victim.
Survey (NCVS).
The NCVS provides estimates of the
Population estimates from the Bureau violent crimes of rape, sexual assault,
of the Census for July 1, 1998, indicate robbery, and assault for persons age
that American Indians account for just 12 or older. During 1992-96 the NCVS
under 1% of the U.S. population: found that American Indians experi-
enced an average of almost 150,000
All races 270,029,000 100.0% violent crimes per year from among the
American Indian* 2,357,000 0.9 estimated 10.8 million violent crimes
White 222,932,000 82.6
occurring on average per year among
Black 34,370,000 12.7
Asian 10,370,000 3.8 all racial groups. Victimization data for
1996 indicate that American Indians
Two demographic factors distinguish accounted for about 1.4% of all violent
American Indians from other racial victimizations that year, about the
groups: in 1998 the median age of the same percentage as in preceding
American Indian population is nearly 8 years.
years younger than the U.S. resident
population, and American Indians are American Indian tribes in the
the most likely to report Hispanic United States, 1996
ethnicity.
Median Percent The indigenous peoples in the
Race age Hispanic United States belong to about 550
All races 35.2 years 11.3% federally recognized tribes that
American Indian 27.4 15.2 have a distinct history and culture
White 36.3 12.4 and often a separate language.
Black 29.9 5.0
Asian 31.2 5.8 Percent of
Tribe American Indians
Cherokee 16.4%
This report presents data on the rates Navajo 11.7
and characteristics of violent crimes, Chippewa 5.5
including murder, experienced by Sioux 5.5
American Indians. Information is also Choctaw 4.4
Pueblo 2.8
*In this report the term American Indian refers Apache 2.7
to Alaska Natives, Aleuts, and American All other tribes 51.0
Indians. The term Asian encompasses Asians, Source: U.S. Bureau of Census,
Hawaiian Natives, and Pacific Islanders. Statistical Abstract of the United
States, 1997, table 51, p. 51.

Table 1. Annual average violent victimization rates for persons
age 12 or older, by race, 1992-96
Annual average
Number of Rate of violent victimi-
Population violent zation per 1,000
age 12 or older victimizations persons age 12 or older
All races 213,660,000 10,784,826 50
American Indian 1,204,014 149,614 124
White 180,543,825 8,880,083 49
Black 25,587,158 1,570,386 61
Asian 6,325,003 184,743 29
Note: The NCVS estimates of the racial distribution of the resident population
age 12 or older for the period 1992-96 correspond closely to the estimates
reported by the Bureau of the Census in their P-25 series of population
estimates. The NCVS estimate shows that American Indians represented
0.6% of those interviewed while the P-25 estimate shows that American Indians
account for 0.8% of the resident population age 12 or older.
The average annual violent crime rate The average annual violent crime
among American Indians & 124 per rate per 1,000 persons age 12 or
1,000 persons age 12 or older & is older during that period was 49 for
about 2½ times the national rate whites and 61 for blacks.
(table 1).
The aggravated assault rate among
All races American Indians (35 per 1,000) was
American Indian more than 3 times the national rate
Black (11 per 1,000) and twice that for
White blacks. The rate of robbery experi-
Asian enced by American Indians (12 per
0 60 120 1,000) was similar to that of black
Number of violent victimizations
per 1,000 persons age 12 or older residents (13 per 1,000) (table 3).
American Indians are overrepresented among victims

of violence compared to their share of the general
population age 12 or older.
Annual average for persons
age 12 or older, 1992-96
NCVS estimates Victims of
of population violence
Total 213.7 million 10.8 million
American Indian 0.6% 1.4%
White 84.5 82.3
Black 12.0 14.6
Asian 3.0 1.7
Table 2
2 American Indians and Crime

Table 3. Annual average rate of rape and sexual assault,
robbery, and assault, by race of victim, 1992-96
Number of victimizations per 1,000 persons

age 12 or older in each racial group
All American
races Indian White Black Asian
Violent victimizations 50 124 49 61 29
Rape/sexual assault 2 7 2 3 1
Robbery 6 12 5 13 7
Aggravated assault 11 35 10 16 6
Simple assault 31 70 32 30 15
For the 1992-96 period, the average The types of violent crimes experi-
annual per capita rate of violent victimi- enced by American Indians were
zation translates into about 1 violent generally similar to that found across
crime for every 20 residents age 12 or the Nation (table 4). The most
older. Substantial variation, however, common type of violent crime experi-
was evident by race. American enced by American Indian victims was
Indians experienced about 1 violent simple assault (56%).
crime for every 8 residents age 12 or American Indian
older compared to 1 violent victimiza- Black
tion for every 16 black residents, 1 for White
every 20 white residents, and 1 for Asian
every 34 Asian residents. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Number of simple assaults per
Types of violent crime 1,000 persons age 12 or older
Among all the violent crimes reported
The Nation's population of American by American Indians, 28% were
Indians age 12 or older experienced an aggravated assault, 10% robbery, and
annual average of 126,400 simple and 6% rape/sexual assault. Asian and
aggravated assaults, 14,800 robberies, black victims of violence were more
and 8,400 rapes or sexual assaults likely than American Indian or white
during 1992-96. victims to have reported a robbery.
Table 4. Violent crime, by type of crime and race of victim, 1992-96

All American
Type of crime races Indian White Black Asian
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Rape/sexual assault 4.3 5.6 4.3 4.4 4.1
Robbery 11.7 9.9 9.7 21.5 24.6
Aggravated assault 21.8 28.4 21.0 25.7 21.0
Simple assault 62.2 56.1 65.0 48.5 50.2
Average annual
number of victimizations 10,784,826 149,614 8,880,083 1,570,386 184,743

Sex, age, and location of residence of Age
victims of violent crime
12-17
The violent crime rate among Ameri- 18-24

can Indian males was 153 per 1,000
males age 12 or older, more than 25-34
double that found among all males (60
35-44
per 1,000 age 12 or older) (table 5).
American Indians
The violent crime rate for American 45-54
All races
Indian females during this period was
98 per 1,000 females, a rate higher 55 or older
than that found among white females 0 50 100 150 200 250
(40 per 1,000) or black females (56 Rate of violent victimization
per 1,000). per 1,000 persons in each group
violent crime rate was more than twice
In 1995 the Bureau Among the that found among whites and blacks of
of Census reported different age the same age.
2.2 million Ameri- groups, violent
can Indians and crime rates were About 40% of American Indians reside
Alaska Natives highest (232 per in rural areas, compared to 18% of
residing in the 1,000 persons) whites and 8% of blacks. The violent
United States, for American crime rate for American Indians was
about 1.94 million Indians age 18 highest for those in urban areas, 207
of whom were
to 24. This per 1,000, and lowest for those in rural
American Indians.
In 1990 over half of
American Indians Table 5. Violent crime rates for persons 12 or older,
and Alaska Natives by age, sex, location of residence, and race, 1992-96
lived in 10 States:
Annual average rates of violent victimization per 1,000
Oklahoma 252,000 Victim All American
California 242,000 characteristic races Indian White Black Asian
Arizona 204,000
New Total 50 124 49 61 29
Mexico 134,000
Sex
Alaska 86,000
Male 60 153 59 68 37
Washington 81,000
Female 42 98 40 56 21
North
Carolina 80,000 Age
Texas 66,000 12 to 17 116 171 118 115 60
New York 63,000 18 to 24 100 232 101 105 41
Michigan 56,000 25 to 34 61 145 61 66 34
35 to 44 44 124 43 51 24
Source: U.S. Bureau
45 to 54 27 43 27 30 15
of the Census, 1990
55 or older 9 14 8 11 5
CP-2-1A, Social
and Economic Location
Characteristics, Urban 65 207 63 75 29
American Indian and Suburban 48 138 48 52 29
Alaska Native Areas. Rural 37 89 37 33 30

Table 6. Violent victimizations, by age, sex,
and race of victim, 1992-96

Victim American
age/sex All races Indian White Black Asian
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
12-17 24.2% 20.4% 23.8% 26.8% 24.0%
18-24 23.6 31.5 23.4 24.0 21.7
25-34 23.6 23.5 23.6 23.2 26.3
35-44 17.0 18.0 17.1 16.6 18.3
45-54 7.5 4.7 7.8 6.1 7.3
55 or older 4.1 1.9 4.3 3.3 2.4
Male 57.4% 58.9% 58.4% 50.5% 62.6%
Female 42.6 41.1 41.6 49.5 37.4
Number of
violent victimizations 10,784,826 149,614 8,880,083 1,570,386 184,743
American Indians
for American Indians is more than 3
Rural
All races times that found among urban whites.
Suburban About half (52%) of the violent crimes

committed against American Indians
Urban
occurred among those age 12 to 24
0 50 100 150 200 250 years (table 6). Two percent of the
Number of violent victimizations violent crimes committed against
per 1,000 persons age 12 or older
American Indians were against the
areas, 89 per 1,000. However, this elderly, age 55 or older.
rural crime rate for American Indians is
more than double that found among Nearly 6 in 10 of the violent crimes
rural whites (37 per 1,000) or blacks experienced by American Indians had
(33 per 1,000). The urban crime rate been committed against males, similar
to the national distribution.
American Indians with

Table 7. Violent victimization rates, by annual
incomes under $10,000 household income and race, 1992-96
had the highest rate
of violent victimization, Number of victimizations per 1,000 persons
182 per 1,000. Household All American
At every income category income races Indian White Black Asian
American Indians had Less than $10,000 73 182 74 71 30
$10,000 - 19,999 54 137 51 70 30
a higher rate of violent
$20,000 - 29,999 48 104 47 56 32
victimization than $30,000 - 39,999 46 72 46 54 22
persons of other races. $40,000 or more 42 84 42 50 22

More than half the violent victimizations of American Indians
involved victims and offenders who had a prior relationship,
about the same percentage as for all violent victimizations.
Victim-offender relationship
American Indians
Intimate
All races
Family
Acquaintance
Stranger
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Note: Figure excludes those victimizations in which the victim
did not know the relationship to the offender or those in which
the number of offenders could not be specified.
Victim-offender relationship involved an offender who was an

intimate or family member to the
Overall, strangers were reported to victim, about the same as for victims
have committed 46% of the violent of all races.
crimes against American Indians (table
8). Percent of violence
Victim-offender All American
More than half of the violent victimiza- relationship races Indians
tions of American Indians involved Intimates 11% 8%
offenders with whom the victim had a Family members 5 7
prior relationship. About 1 in 6 violent Acquaintances 34 38
victimizations among American Indians Strangers 51 46
Table 8. Violent victimizations of American Indians,

by victim-offender relationship and type of victimization, 1992-96
against American Indians
Type of Intimates/ Acquaint-
victimization Total family members ances Strangers
All 100% 15% 38% 46%
Rape 100 25 43 32
Robbery 100 10 14 76
Aggravated assault 100 7 41 51
Simple assault 100 19 40 40

Race of offender The majority (60%) of American Indian
victims of violent crime described the
Violent crime against white or black offender as white, and nearly 30% of
victims is primarily intraracial. Among the offenders were likely to have been
white victims of violence, 69% of other American Indians. An estimated
offenders were white (table 9). 10% of offenders were described as
Likewise, black victims of violence black.
were most likely to have been victim-
ized by a black offender (81%). The less serious the offense, the
higher was the percentage of Ameri-
The NCVS classifies as “other race” can Indian victims of violence describ-
those offenders whom victims perceive ing the offender as “other race”
to be Asian or American Indian. (table 10).
However, based
on self-reports of Table 9. Percent of violent victimizations, by race of victim
offender race, it is and race of offender, 1992-96
clear that American Race of offender
Indians and Asians, Race of victim Total Other White Black
when victimized by All races 100% 11% 60% 29%
violence, were the American Indian 100 29 60 10
most likely to report White 100 11 69 20
Black 100 7 12 81
that the offender was Asian 100 32 39 29
from a different race. Note: Table excludes an estimated 420,793 victims of violence
(3.9% of all victims) who could not describe the offender’s race.
American Indian victims of rape/sexual assault most often reported that

the victimization involved an offender of a different race. About 9 in 10
American Indian victims of rape or sexual assault were estimated to have
had assailants who were white or black.
Two-thirds or more of the American Indian victims of robbery,

aggravated assault, and simple assault described the offender
as belonging to a different race.
Percent of American Indian victims, 1992-96

Race of All violent Rape/sexual Aggravated Simple
offender victimizations assault Robbery assault assault
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
White 63% 82% 55% 61% 59%

Black 10 6 24 12 8
Other 29 12 21 27 34
Table 10

Intimate and family violence
Intimate and family violence

each account for about 9% American Indians Family v iolence
Intimate v iolence
of all violent victimizations
experienced by American 0% 5% 10% 15%
Indian victims, about the Percent of violent victimizations
same percentage as found
among all victims of violence. (See Note on the graph below.)
Most striking among American Indian victims of violence is the substantial

difference in the racial composition of offenders in intimate violence incidents
when contrasted with family violence. Among violence victims of all races,
about 11% of intimate victims and 5% of family victims report the offender to
have been of a different race; however, among American Indian victims of
violence, 75% of the intimate victimizations and 25% of the family victimiza-
tions involved an offender of a different race.
Intimate and family violence involve a comparatively high level of alcohol and
drug use by offenders as perceived by victims — as is the case for Indian and
non-Indian victims. Indian victims of intimate and family violence, however,
are more likely than others to be injured and need hospital care.
Family v iolence
Interracial Intimate v iolence
Alcohol-involved
Victims injured
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Percent of American Indian victimizations
Note: Intimate violence refers to victimizations involving current and former spouses,
boyfriends, and girlfriends. Family violence refers to victimizations involving spouses
and other relatives. Alcohol-involved incidents included only those incidents in which
the victim felt that he/she could determine whether the offender had been using drugs
or alcohol.

Table 11. Violent crime, by the perceived drug or alcohol
use of the offender and by race of victim, 1992-96
Perceived drug or alcohol use by offender
Race of
victim Total Alcohol Drugs Both Neither
Total 100% 28% 8% 7% 57%
American Indian 100 38 9 8 45
White 100 29 8 7 56
Black 100 21 7 7 65
Asian 100 20 3 2 75
Note: Table excludes those respondents who were unable to report whether
they perceived the offender to have been using drugs or alcohol.
Alcohol, drugs, and crime victims of violence were the most likely
to report such perceived use by the
Alcohol and drug use was a factor in offender.
more than half of violent crimes against
American Indians (table 11). Overall, in 55% of American Indian
violent victimizations, the victim said
Substantial differences can be found the offender was under the influence of
by race in the reports of victims of alcohol, drugs, or both. The offender’s
violence of their perceptions of drug use of alcohol and/or drugs was
and alcohol use by offenders. Among somewhat less likely in violent crimes
those who could describe alcohol or committed against whites (44%) or
drug use by offenders, American Indian blacks (35%).
Offenders’ use of alcohol and drugs reported by American Indian

victims of violence varied with the race of the offender: Intraracial
violence was more likely to involve a drinking offender while
interracial violence involved higher levels of offender drug use.
According to American Indian victims of violence, offender

use of alcohol was a factor in nearly two-thirds of the violent
victimizations in which the offender was neither white nor black.
Race of Percent of victimizations in which the offender was perceived using&

victim/offender Alcohol Drugs Both Neither
American Indian/white 30% 10% 8% 52%
American Indian/black 35 13 3 49
American Indian/other 57 1 8 34
White/white 36% 8% 1% 48%

Black/black 21 8 6 66
Asian/other 18 2 3 77
Table 12

An estimated 3 in 4 Victim-offender relationship
American Indian American Indians
Intimates All races
victims of family
violence reported that Family
they perceived the
Acquaintances
offender to have been
drinking at the time Strangers
of the offense. About 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
half the persons of all Percent of v iolent v ictimizations in which
races who were the v ictims f elt certain they could
victims of family distinguish alcohol use by the of f ender
violence reported a Note: Intimates include current and former spouses, boyfriends,
drinking offender. and girlfriends. Family includes all other family members.
Location of violent crime victims of all races to have occurred

at or near a home.
Just over 40% of American Indian
victims of violence reported that the Nineteen percent of violent victimiza-
incident occurred in or around their tions against American Indians took
own home or that of a friend, relative, place in open areas, on the street or
or neighbor (table 13). This is higher on public transportation. Fewer than
than the approximately one-third of 1 in 10 violent crimes were reported
violent victimizations reported by to have occurred at school.
Table 13. Violent incidents, by place of occurrence


All American
Place of occurrence races Indian White Black Asian
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Home or lodging 14 12 14 17 12
Near own home 11 17 11 14 9
At, in, or near friend’s, relative’s,
or neighbor’s home 9 14 9 10 7
Commercial places 13 13 14 9 19
Parking lots/garages 8 9 8 6 9
School 13 7 13 11 12
Open areas, on street or public
transportation 22 19 21 28 24
Other 10 9 10 6 9

Table 14. Violent crime, by time of occurrence
Time of occurrence and race of victim, 1992-96

Half of the violent crimes Time of violent American
committed against crime occurrence Indian White Black Asian
American Indians Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
occurred after dark. Light 44 52 51 51
About 1 in 5 of the violent Dark 52 44 46 45
Dawn 5 4 4 4
victimizations took place
between midnight and Total 100% 100% 100% 100%
6:00 a.m. 6 am-12 noon 11 14 13 17
12 noon-6 pm 30 38 38 34
6 pm-midnight 40 35 38 38
Midnight-6 am 19 13 11 11
Crime in the workplace
On average nearly 2 million violent crimes occurred in the workplace

every year. The workplace accounted for about 1 in 5 violent crimes
experienced by the public.
Among American Indians about 14% of the violent victimizations were

reported to have occurred in the workplace.
About 1 in 4 employed American Indian victims of violence

said that the incident occurred in the workplace.
Percent of victims of violence

All American
Unemployed 40% 48% 37% 52% 41%
Employed 60 52 63 48 59
Percent reporting
workplace violence 31% 26% 32% 25% 31%
Percent of all violent incidents

which occurred at the workplace 19% 14% 20% 12% 18%
Table 15

Table 16. Violent victimizations, by use of weapon

Offender use American
of weapon All races Indian White Black Asian
No weapon used 74% 66% 76% 62% 68%
Hands/feet only 35 33 35 34 34
Weapon used 26% 34% 24% 38% 33%
Firearm 11 13 9 19 17
Knife 7 7 6 9 8
Blunt object 4 7 4 4 5
Other weapon 5 6 5 5 4
Weapons used in violent crime In almost 70% of the violent crime

incidents, the American Indian victim
In about a third of the violent crime resisted the offender, most frequently
incidents American Indian victims were through the use of physical force (table
faced with an offender who had a 17). American Indian victims used a
weapon (table 16). About 13% of the weapon in self-defense in less than 3%
crimes involved an offender with a of the violent incidents committed
firearm. against them.
Table 17. Self-protective measures employed by victims,

by race of victim, 1992-96

Self-protective actions American
taken during incident Indian White Black Asian
None 31% 28% 31% 37%
Confrontational actions
Used physical force toward offender 18% 14% 15% 9%
Weapons 3 3 4 1
No weapons 16 11 12 9
Chased, tried to catch/hold offender 2 1 1 1
Defended self/property 16 15 16 11
Scared or warned off offender 4 5 5 5
Nonconfrontational actions
Persuaded or appeased offender 7% 9% 8% 11%
Ran away, hid, locked door 12 12 11 14
Got help or gave alarm 4 4 4 3
Other 7 12 10 9
Note: Victims may have used more than one measure.

Table 18. Violent victimizations in which the victims sustained
physical injury or received medical care, by race

Victim reported American
physical injury All victims Indian White Black Asian
Yes 25% 32% 24% 31% 25%
Type of Injury
Sexual assault 2% 4% 2% 2% 3%
Shot/internal injuries 1 3 1 3 2
Broken bones/concussion 2 5 2 2 1
Bruises 18 18 18 19 17
Other injuries 3 2 2 4 2
Treatment for injuries
Not treated 57% 48% 59% 45% 55%
Treated 44 53 41 55 44
At hospital 19 32 16 26 24
Note: The percent treated was calculated on those injured during the violent incident.
Detail may not add to total because of rounding.
Injury rates, hospitalization, Seventy-one percent of American

and financial loss Indian crime victims who were injured
during the incident and sought medical
American Indian victims of a violent treatment had medical insurance or
crime were more likely to have been qualified for public medical benefits.
injured than were white or Asian crime
victims. Nearly a third of the American Injured American Indian victims of
Indian violent crime victims were violence who sought treatment for their
injured during the incident (table 18). injuries were as likely as other racial
About a quarter of all violence victims groups to have some form of coverage
of all races were injured during the for medical benefits.
incident. Percent with
Injured victims coverage
As a result of their victimizations, an
American Indians 71%
estimated 18% of American Indian White 69
victims of violence sustained bruises, Black 71
the most commonly reported injury. Asian 64
Among those injured, about half
received some kind of medical treat-
ment & a third at the hospital.

Victims of violence were asked to The total annual loss for American
report the value of losses associated Indians arising from violent criminal
with the violence they experienced. victimization translates into more than
These losses could include medical $35 million (table 20). The losses
expenses, property lost or damaged, reported by American Indian victims of
and pay lost by missing work. violence largely resulted from medical
expenses that accounted for more
About 1 in 4 American Indian victims than $21 million.
of violence suffered an economic loss
as a consequence of the victimization. Losses to American Indian victims of
The average per-victim loss among violence were distributed as follows:
American Indian victims of violence Medical 60.4%
reporting a loss was $936 (table 19). Cash 2.7
Property
Loss 4.0
Repair 5.4
Replacement 2.9
Lost pay
From injury 12.6
Other causes 11.7
Table 19. Average dollar loss Table 20. Economic loss to American
per victim of violence, by race Indian victims of violent crime, by type
of victim, 1992-96 of loss, 1992-96
Race of victim Average
of violence dollar loss American Indian
All $878 victims of violence
American Indian 936 Reason Average loss Estimated total
White 818 for loss per victim annual loss
Black 1,081 Total $936 $35,123,400
Asian 810
Medical expenses $2,407 $21,227,333
Cash loss 223 960,907
Property
Loss $155 $1,403,370
Repair 152 1,907,680
Replacement 191 1,013,064
Lost pay from &
Injury $641 $4,433,797
Other causes 754 4,116,086

Child abuse and neglect
In the United States from 1992 to 1995, American Indians and Asians
were the only racial or ethnic groups to experience increases in the rate
of abuse or neglect of children under age 15, as measured by incidents
recorded by child protective service agencies.
The increase in reported incidents involving American Indian children
was more than 3 times as large as that for Asian children. The per capita
rate for American Indian children was 7 times that of Asian children.
Number of victims per 100,000 children, age 14 or younger
1992 1995 Percent change
All children 1,866 1,724 -8%
American Indian 2,830 3,343 18
White 1,628 1,520 -7
Black 3,560 3,323 -7
Asian 454 479 6
Hispanic 1,486 1,254 -16
Note: Rates were calculated on the number of children age 14 or younger

because they account for at least 80% of the victims of child abuse and neglect.
Each year the National Child Abuse Non-Hispanic American Indians

and Neglect Data System of the accounted for just under 2% of the
Department of Health and Human victims of child abuse/neglect in
Services obtains from child protective reports collected nationwide in 1995.
service agencies nationwide the There is evidence that their share has
number of reports of alleged maltreat- been increasing. Non-Hispanic
ment of children. Published data for American Indians, who accounted for
1995 indicate that about 1 million just under 1% of the population age
children were substantiated to have 14 or younger, were overrepresented
been victims of neglect, physical twofold as victims of child abuse.
abuse, sexual abuse, emotional
maltreatment, medical neglect, or On a per capita basis, 1995 data
other forms of verified maltreatment. indicate about 1 substantiated report
of a child victim of abuse or neglect
Percent for every 30 American Indian children
Number of victims American age 14 or younger.
of maltreatment* Indian
1992 1,044,480 1.5%
1993 966,163 1.6 Nationwide, the 1995 rates translate
1994 1,011,595 1.8 into about 1 child victim of maltreat-
1995 1,000,502 1.9 ment known to a child protective
*Reported by child protective agencies. services agency for every &
Data may contain duplicate counts of & 58 children of any race
incidents. & 66 white children
& 30 black children
Source: National Child Abuse and & 209 Asian children
Neglect Data System
& 80 Hispanic children
Table 21
American Indians differ little from other racial groups
in their reporting of violent crime to the police
or in the likelihood that the victim knows of the arrest of the offender.
Average annual number

of victimizations
10,785,800
Subsequent arrest
Reported to of offender
Victims the police (reported offenses only)
American Indian 149,600 45% 28%
White 8,880,100 41 28
Black 1,570,400 50 22
Asian 184,700 39 19
Table 22
Reporting violent crime Among victims not reporting the crime

to the police to the police, the reasons that persons
of different racial backgrounds had for
Forty-five percent of American Indian not reporting were also similar. Nearly
victims of violent crime reported the half of both American Indians not
crime to the police (table 22). This reporting the violent crime to the police
level of crime reporting was similar to and victims of all races who did not
that found among white (41%) and report the violence to the police said
black (50%) violent crime victims. that they considered the matter private
or too minor to bother the
Table 23. Reasons why victims of violence did police (table 23).
not report the victimization to the police,
by race of victim, 1992-96 For those violent crimes
reported to the police
Percent of victims of
victims said that police
violence not reporting the
victimization to the police made an arrest in about
Reason for not All American a quarter of the cases
reporting to the police races Indians (table 24).
Total 100% 100%
Personal matter 21 26
Too unimportant 24 24 Twelve percent of the
Police of limited assistance 11 14 victims who reported their
Reported to other authority 13 8 violent crime to the police
Fear of or worry about offender 7 6
received victim services
Too busy 3 2
Other reasons 22 20 assistance.

Arrests of offenders and services to victims
Table 24. Violent victimizations reported to the police,

by whether an arrest was made and whether victim
services were provided, by race of victim, 1992-96

reported to the police
All American
Was an arrest made?
Yes 27% 27% 28% 22% 19%
No 66 65 65 70 71
Do not know 7 8 7 8 11
Victim services assistance?
Yes 10% 12% 10% 9% 9%
Note: The percent reporting an arrest and the percent reporting that they
had received assistance from a victim services agency were based on
those victimizations reported to the police.
There were no differences between victims of violence who were

American Indians and victims of all races in the percentage having
contacts with the prosecutor’s office or a victim services agency.
For all victims such contacts were higher in those cases

in which an arrest was known to have occurred.
Average annual number of violent

victimizations reported to the police
4,525,200
|
Resulted in &
Arrests No arrests
Victims of all races 1,228,400 3,296,800
Subsequent contact with &
Prosecutor’s office 23% 3%
Victim services agency 17 7
American Indian victims 19,000 49,000

Subsequent contact with &
Prosecutor’s office 25% 3%
Victim services agency 21 8

Average annual rates of violent victimization,
by race and ethnicity, 1992-96
Number of violent victimizations,

per 1,000, age 12 or older
All ethnicities Hispanic Non-Hispanic
All races 50 58 50
American Indian 124 243 116
White 49 56 48
Black 61 85 61
Asian 29 63 28
Note: The table excludes respondents who did not provide
complete data on race and ethnicity.
Race and ethnicity in violent victimization
The NCVS asks respondents about both race and ethnicity.

For 1992-96 about 9% of all participants, or about 18.5 million
residents age 12 or older in an average year, were of Hispanic
origin and belonged to one of the four primary racial groups
sampled in the survey— white, black, American Indian, or Asian.
Hispanic residents were estimated to consist of 17.8 million
whites, 0.5 million blacks, about 0.1 million Asians,
and a slightly smaller number of American Indians.
Across each racial group, Hispanic residents were found to have

higher average per capita rates of violent victimization. Among all
racial and ethnic groups, non-Hispanic Asians were found to have
the lowest estimated rates of violent victimization, about 1 violent
crime for every 36 residents. By contrast, American Indian
residents who also identified themselves as Hispanic reported a
rate of violent victimization that translated into about 1 violent
crime for every 4 residents.
• While about 7% of all American Indian participants in the NCVS

reported they were also of Hispanic ethnicity, nearly 14% of those
American Indians victimized by violence were of Hispanic origin.
• Among American Indians who also described themselves

as Hispanic, the rate of violent victimization was 4 times
the rate found among all Hispanics and twice the rate
found among non-Hispanic American Indians.
Table 25

Annual number of murders of American Indians, 1976-96
Number of American Indian

murder v ictims
200
150
100
50
0
1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996
Murder among American Indians nationwide. In Alaska in 1976-96,

American Indians and Alaska Natives
Each year about 150 American Indians composed about 16% of the popula-
become murder victims. Little year-to- tion but 28% of that State’s murder
year variation occurred in the number victims. The 10 States in which about
of American Indian murder victims, but 63% of the American Indian population
recent years were below the peak reside have accounted for about 75%
reached in 1986. of the murders.
American Indians were 0.7% of all Rates of murder

murder victims nationwide, about the
same as their share of the population As observed across the other racial
(table 26). From 1976 to 1996 an groups, the number of murders per
estimated 3,100 American Indians capita among American Indians has
were murdered. Because of variations been declining. The rate of murder
in reporting by law enforcement among American Indians in 1996 was
agencies over time, detail on these below the national average for ages
murder victims is available for 2,826 under age 40 (table 27). For ages 40
American Indian murder victims or or older, murder rates are close to the
about 92% of the total estimated national average.
number of victims.
For persons age 24 or younger in
Over the 21-year period, just under 1996, American Indian rates of murder
14% of the murders of American closely paralleled the rates among
Indians occurred in California, propor- whites and Asians and were well below
tional to California’s share of the the rates among black victims. For
American Indian population. Alaska, those age 25 to 29, the 37% decline in
by contrast, accounts for about 10% the rate of murder among American
of American Indian murder victims Indians reflects the largest decline of
over the period but just over 4% of the any racial group.
American Indian population

Table 26. Murders of American Indians, as a percent of all
American Indians and of all murder victims, by State, 1976-96
American Indians as a
States with the Number Percent of & percent of &
largest number of of murders All murders The American All Total
American Indian of American of American Indian murder resident
murder victims Indians Indians population victims population
U.S. total 2,826 100.0% 100.0% 0.7% 0.8%
California 386 13.7 13.7 0.6 1.0
Oklahoma 326 11.5 11.9 6.2 8.1
Alaska 268 9.5 4.2 28.0 15.5
North Carolina 245 8.7 3.9 2.0 1.2
Arizona 233 8.2 10.8 4.1 5.8
Washington 191 6.8 4.4 4.2 1.8
Minnesota 164 5.8 2.5 7.4 1.2
New Mexico 160 5.7 6.7 7.5 8.9
New York 75 2.7 3.1 0.2 0.4
Oregon 71 2.5 2.0 2.7 1.4
All other States 707 25.0 36.8 0.3 0.4
Note: Supplementary Homicide Data are for 1976-96.
Population data are for 1994.
Table 27. Number of murders per 100,000 population,

by race and age, 1991 and 1996
Age of murder victims
17 or 50
younger 18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-49 or older
Murder rate, 1996
Total 7.9 19.6 14.5 10.8 9.2 6.6 4.4
American Indian 4.0 9.1 11.2 10.8 8.8 7.2 5.7
White 4.9 9.5 7.4 6.2 5.8 4.3 3.3
Black 24.3 76.6 58.2 40.8 32.7 24.1 14.0
Asian 4.3 9.0 6.2 5.3 3.4 3.2 3.3
Murder rate, 1991

Total 9.3 23.9 18.6 15.0 12.0 8.7 5.7
American Indian 5.0 9.7 17.8 14.1 11.7 7.0 5.1
White 5.4 11.6 9.8 8.5 7.2 5.6 4.0
Black 30.6 97.4 75.0 60.0 46.3 34.1 21.1
Asian 4.7 9.9 9.5 7.7 7.9 6.2 4.9
Percent change, 1991-96

Total -15.1% -18.0% -22.0% -28.0% -23.3% -24.1% -23.6%
American Indian* -20.0 -6.2 -37.1 -23.4 -24.8 2.8 12.7
White -9.3 -18.1 -24.5 -27.1 -19.4 -22.4 -18.7
Black -20.6 -21.4 -22.4 -32.0 -29.4 -29.4 -33.6
Asian -8.5 -9.1 -34.7 -31.2 -57.0 -48.9 -33.2
*Increases occurred from 4 additional murders of persons age 40 to 49
and 4 additional murders of persons age 50 or older. Denominators
for the oldest group included persons age 50 to 74 years.

Table 28. Circumstances of murder, by race, 1976-96
Murders
Murders with known American
circumstances All races Indian White Black Asian
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Violent felony 14 11 16 11 27
Other felony offenses 10 5 10 11 8
Suspected felony 4 4 4 3 3
Brawl under the influence
of alcohol/drugs 5 13 6 4 2
Arguments 43 45 38 50 35
Other circumstances 24 22 27 21 25
Number 344,928 2,515 181,043 156,203 4,545
Note: Table excludes an estimated 101,446 murder victims for whom the
circumstances were not known.
Source: FBI, Supplemental Homicide Reports, 1976-96.
Circumstances of murder than white (6%), black (4%), or Asian

(2%) murder victims (table 28). Forty-
Supplemental data regarding murders five percent of American Indian murder
with known circumstances indicate that victims were killed during an argument,
American Indian murder victims were and 11% were killed during the
more likely to have been killed during a commission of a violent felony.
brawl involving alcohol or drugs (13%)
American Indian and Asian murder victims, whether

victims of violent felony murder or murders arising from
arguments, were more likely than whites or blacks to have
been victimized by an offender of a different race.
American Indian
White
Argument murders
Black
Violent f elony murders
Asian
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Percent of murder victims killed by
someone of a dif f erent race

Table 29. Murders, by victim-offender relationship and race, 1976-96
Percent of murder
Victims of American
all races Indian White Black Asian
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Victim/offender had
prior relationship 81.2 83.9 78.4 84.5 70.9
Victim/offender
were strangers 18.8 16.1 21.6 15.5 29.1
Same race 13.8 3.9 14.4 13.4 8.2
Different races 5.0 12.2 7.1 2.1 20.9
Number of murder victims 281,603 2,242 147,417 128,551 3,393
Note: Table excludes victims with unknown relationship
to offender and victims and offenders of unspecified races.
Victim-offender relationship offender relations in American Indian

in murder cases murder cases were similar to those
found among all murders.
In American Indian murder cases in
which the victim offender-relationship American Indian and Asian murder
was known, strangers accounted for victims were more likely than white or
approximately 16% of the murders black murder victims to have been
(table 29). Acquaintances accounted killed by a stranger of a different race.
for about half the murders. Victim-
Table 30. Murders, by race of offender and victim, 1976-96
Race of murder victim

Race of All American
offender races Indian White Black Asian
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
American Indian 0.8% 56.9% 0.6% 0.1% 0.4%
White 47.6 32.5 85.6 5.8 22.1
Black 50.4 9.7 13.3 94.0 18.1
Asian 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.1 59.2
Number 313,032 2,381 162,609 143,854 3,688
Note: Table excludes cases in which the race of the victim
or offender is unknown.
Source: Supplemental Homicide Data are for the period 1976-96.
Population data are for 1994.
Race of murderers However, when the races of the

offender and victim were known, more
In most murder cases involving a white than 40% of American Indian murder
or black victim, the offender was of the victims were killed by an offender who
same race as the victim (table 30). was not an American Indian; in 33% of
the cases the offender was white.

Compared to all murder victims, American Indian
murder victims were substantially less likely to have
been killed by a handgun but more likely to have been
killed by a rifle or shotgun or stabbed.
Handgun
Rifle/shotgun
Other firearm
Knife
Blunt object
Personal weapon*
American Indian murder v ictims

All other weapons All murder v ictims
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Percent of murder victims
*Includes hands and f eet.
Note: Excludes cases in which type of weapon is unknown.
Murder weapons
American Indian murder victims were

substantially less likely (28% to 50%)
than all murder victims to have been
killed by a handgun. Almost 30% of
American Indian murder victims were
killed by a knife, compared to less
than 20% of all murders.

Arrests and convictions Approximately 17% of American
of American Indians Indians arrested for these violent
offenses are under age 18, nearly the
Arrest data for 1996, provided by local same percentage found among arres-
law enforcement agencies, indicate tees for all violent crimes in 1996. The
that American Indians account for 1996 arrest rates for Part I violent
0.9% of the arrests for Part I violent crimes among American Indian youth
crimes (murder and nonnegligent were about the same as for white
manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, youth and were about a fifth of those
and aggravated assault) & an of black youth.
estimated 6,600 arrests for these
offenses.
Unlike the pattern of violent crime arrest rates for other racial
groups & higher for youth than for the whole population &
among American Indians the arrest rates for those under
age 18 did not vary from the overall rate.
All ages
All races
Y outh
American Indian
Black
White
Asian
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Number of arrestees for Part I
v iolent crimes per 100,000 population
Note: Arrest rates f or y outh were based on the estimated

number of arrests of persons under the age of 18
and calculated on the number of residents age 10-17.
Source: FBI, Crime in the United States, 1996.

American Indians have a rate of arrest for alcohol violations
(DUI, liquor law violations, and public drunkenness) more
than double the national rate. Arrests of American Indians
under age 18 for alcohol-related violations are also twice
the national average.
Number of arrests per 100,000 population

All ages Youth
All American All American
races Indian races Indian
Total violent 275 291 445 294
Murder 7 7 9 5
Rape 13 16 19 14
Robbery 59 37 165 67
Aggravated assault 197 231 252 208
Total property 1,039 1,369 2,783 3,026
Total alcohol violations 1,079 2,545 649 1,341
DUI 553 1,069 61 98
Liquor laws 255 727 510 1,108
Drunkenness 271 749 78 135
Note: Arrest rate is the number of arrests per 100,000 resident population.
Arrest rates for youth were based upon the estimated number of arrests of
persons under the age of 18. The youth arrest rate was calculated on the
number of residents age 10-17.
Table 31
Felony convictions in State courts

Table 32. Annual average number
of felony convictions in State courts,
On average there are annually about by race, 1990-96
900,000 felony convictions in State
courts. American Indians account for Felony convictions
just over ½ of 1% of felony convic- Average
tions across the Nation (table 32). annual number Percent
Total 898,290 100%

In 1996 State and local felony courts American Indian 4,980 0.6
throughout the United States White 468,944 52.2
convicted an estimated 1 million Black 418,124 46.6
defendants. Among these were an Asian 6,243 0.7
estimated 7,000 felony convictions of Note: The annual average estimates are based
American Indians, a rate of approxi- on the National Judicial Reporting Program,
mately 1 felony conviction for every 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1996.
200 American Indians age 18 or
older. By contrast in 1996 whites conviction was 1 for every 51 adults; and
experienced a felony conviction rate Asians reflected the lowest rate, about 1
of about 1 conviction per 300 adults; felony conviction for every 600 Asian
among blacks the rate of felony residents age 18 or older.

Table 33. Correctional population, by status and race, 1997
Percent of correctional populations

All American
Number races Indian White Black Asian
Number of offenders
Total corrections 5,751,277 100% 1.1% 58.8% 39.6% 0.5%
Probation 3,261,888 100% 0.9 66.5 32.3 0.4
Local jails 557,974 100% 2.9 53.1 42.8 1.0
State prisons 1,131,581 100% 1.0 43.1 55.4 0.5
Federal prisons 112,973 100% 1.5 60.1 37.0 1.5
Parole 685,033 100% 0.6 52.6 46.4 0.5
Offenders per 100,000

resident population
age 18 or older
Total corrections 2,907 4,194 2,036 9,863 414
Probation 1,650 1,965 1,306 4,561 183
Local jails 282 1,083 178 1,031 78
State prisons 572 757 294 2,714 80
Federal prisons 57 113 41 181 24
Parole 346 275 217 1,376 48
American Indians under By comparison, an estimated 2%

correctional supervision of white adults, 10% of black
adults, and less than a half of 1%
American Indians accounted for of Asian adults were under
about 1% of the more than 5.7 correctional supervision (not
million adults under correctional shown in a table).
care, custody, or control on a
single day in 1997 (table 33). The In 1997, 54% of the American
estimated 62,600 American Indians under correctional super-
Indians with a correctional status vision were in the community &
accounted for just over 4% of the on probation (47%) or parole
American Indian adult population (7%). Twenty-five percent were
(not shown in a table). held in local jails, 18% in State
prisons, and 3% in Federal
prisons.

In 1997 just under half of the American Indian offenders
under the care, custody, or control of Federal, State,
or local correctional authorities were confined in prisons or jails.
By contrast, less than a third of correctional populations nation-
wide were confined in prisons or jails.
American Indian correctional population

62,659
Local jails (26%)
Probation (47%)
State prisons (18%)
Parole (7%) Federal prisons (3%)
Nationwide correctional population

5,751,277
Local jails (10%)
State prisons (20%)
Probation (57%)
Federal prisons (2%)
Parole (12%)

Table 34. American Indian jail inmates, by offense, 1996
Unconvicted jail Convicted jail

inmates inmates
All American All American
races Indians races Indians
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Violent 36.7% 26.6% 21.7% 21.9%

Homicide 6.6 2.7 1.5 0.2
Sexual assault 3.8 -- 3.0 7.1
Robbery 8.8 2.2 5.5 7.9
Assault 15.4 15.7 10.0 10.1
Other violent 2.1 5.9 1.7 1.6
Property 25.6% 27.4% 28.6% 27.0%

Burglary 7.7 11.5 8.0 8.1
Larceny 5.6 2.3 9.5 6.2
Motor vehicle theft 3.3 7.3 2.3 4.7
Other property 9.0 6.3 8.8 7.9
Drugs 20.2% 6.5% 23.7% 15.8%
Public-order 17.4% 39.5% 25.6% 35.3%

Weapons 2.2 8.2 2.4 0.7
DWI 3.6 13.8 9.6 13.1
Other public-order 11.6 17.5 13.6 21.5
Number 165,733 4,241 314,867 9,824

--Too small to estimate.
American Indians comprised just over Compared to jail inmates of all races,
1% of the offenders on probation or when the statuses of conviction are
parole or in State or Federal prisons combined, American Indians were less
but an estimated 2.9% of persons in likely to have been jailed for a violent
local jails nationwide. American or drug offense (table 34). However,
Indians accounted for 2.5% of those consistent with their higher arrest rates
detained in local jails who had not for driving under the influence of
been convicted of crimes and 3% of alcohol, a substantial percentage of
the convicted offenders in jail serving American Indians reported that they
shorter sentences or awaiting transfer were in jail charged with or convicted
to other institutions. of an offense involving driving while
intoxicated (DWI). American Indians
accounted for an estimated 10% of
unconvicted jail inmates charged with
DWI and just over 4% of convicted
DWI offenders in local jails.

About half of convicted American Indian inmates
in local jails had been consuming alcoholic
beverages at the time of the offense for which they
had been convicted. An estimated 7 in 10
American Indians in local jails convicted of a violent
crime had been drinking when they committed
the offense.
Ty pe of conv iction of f ense
All offenses
Violent
Property
American Indian jail inmates

Drug
All conv icted jail inmates
Public-order
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Percent of convicted inmates reporting
drinking at the time of the of f ense
Blood alcohol concen- Nearly 4 in 10 American Indian

tration calculated from inmates held in local jails had been
inmates’ reports of drinking
at the time of their offense
charged with a public-order
Jail Prison offense & most commonly driving
All races 0.20 0.27 while intoxicated.
American Indian 0.23 0.32
White 0.20 0.28
Black 0.18 0.26
Sixteen percent of convicted
Asian 0.20 0.20 American Indians serving time in
local jails had been convicted of
Note: Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
is the number of grams of alcohol per
a drug offense.
deciliter of blood.

In fiscal year 1996 U.S. attorneys investigated 1,927 suspects
for offenses committed in Indian country.
&
Distribution of Indian country suspects investigated, by Federal court district&
Number of investigations
None
Fewer than 50
50 to 99
100 or more
Table 35. Types of offenses charged in cases

filed in U.S. district courts, 1997
Federal district court filings, 1997 American Indian

American Indian youth detained
Type of offense All cases cases
Total 100.0% 100.0%
Violent 6.7 47.5 In September 1994,
Fraud 18.3 9.1 American Indians were
Property 5.2 12.9 75 of the 124 juvenile
Drugs 39.5 14.7
Regulatory 3.3 2.0
delinquents confined
Other 27.0 13.8 under Federal jurisdiction
Number 60,403 1,126
& about 60% of such
juveniles.
American Indians in the Federal justice system
The BJS Special Report
In 1997 U.S. attorneys filed cases in Federal Juvenile Delinquents in
district court against 1,126 American Indians. the Federal Criminal
Almost half of these cases involved a violent crime. Justice System, February
1997, NCJ 163066,
The majority of cases were filed in U.S. district describes the circum-
courts in South Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, stances of youth in the
and Montana. Federal system.

American Indians and the death penalty
Over the period 1973-97, All American
6,139 persons were sen- races Indians
Sentenced to death, 1973-97 6,139 52
tenced to death in the
United States. During the Executions, 1976-97 432 3
same years 52 American Percent executed 7.0% 5.8%
Indians were sentenced to Removed from death row by
death, 0.8% of the total. means other than execution 2,372 21
Between 1976 and 1997 a Percent removed by other means 38.6% 40.4%
total of 432 persons were Remaining under sentence
executed, including 3 of death, 1997 3,335 28
Percent remaining, 1997 54.3% 53.8%
American Indians (0.7%
of those executed). This sentenced to death between 1973
translates into a rate of execution and 1997 still remained under a
for those sentenced to death of death sentence at the close of 1997.
about 7 per 100 persons receiving
a death sentence and for American About half of all death sentences
Indians, about 5.8 per 100. imposed upon American Indians
were in North Carolina (11) and Okla-
Among the 6,139 persons sentenced homa (14). Oklahoma (8) had the
to death, 3,335 were still under a
largest number of American Indians
death sentence at the end of 1997&
currently under a sentence to death.
54.3% of those entering death row
No Federal death sentences were
over the period. For American
Indians, 28 of the 52 (53.8%) imposed on American Indians during
the period 1973-97.
Total Sentence Under sentence

sentenced to Died from overturned of death
State death 1973-97 Executed other causes or commuted 12/31/97
Alabama 1 1
Arizona 5 1 4
California 5 1 4
Delaware 1 1
Florida 1 1
Georgia 1 1
Idaho 1 1
Maryland 1 1
Montana 3 2 1
Nebraska 2 1 1
New Mexico 1 1
North Carolina 11 7 4
Ohio 1 1
Oklahoma 14 1 1 4 8
Oregon 1 1
Tennessee 1 1
Texas 1 1
Utah 1 1
U.S. total 52 3 1 20 28
Table 36
American Indian tribal criminal In addition to law enforcement
justice services, American Indian tribes and
the BIA operate jails in tribal areas.*
The BJS Census of State and Local Data provided by BIA indicate that
Law Enforcement Agencies, 1996 these facilities employed 659 persons
identified 135 tribal law enforcement and had an authorized capacity to
agencies with a total of 1,731 full-time house just over 2,000 adults and
sworn officers. The Bureau of Indian juveniles (table 37).
Affairs (BIA), which also has law
*BJS has conducted a survey of tribal confine-
enforcement responsibility for selected
ment facilities. Analysis of survey responses will
tribal jurisdictions, reported 339 full-
be reported in Survey of Jails in Indian Country,
time officers authorized to make arrests 1998, forthcoming, NCJ 173410.
and carry firearms.
Table 37. Tribal jail capacity and jail staff, by State and tribe, 1998
Capacity
State Tribe Adult Juvenile Staff
Alaska Metlakatla Indian Community 8 4
Arizona Navajo Nation 208 36 96
Colorado River Indian Tribes 30 8 12
Fort Mohave Indian Tribe 1 1 4
White Mountain Apache Tribe 31 17 22
Hopi Tribe 68 28 8
Tohono O'Odham Nation 33 16 31
Gila River Indian Community 73 32 40
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community 70 33 18
San Carlos Apache Tribe 38 14
Hualapai, Havasupai, Prescott
Apache, and Tonto Apache 36 8 7
Supai Tribe 4 2
Pascua Yaqui Tribe 1 1 6
California Chehalis Indian Tribe 2 1
Colorado Southern Ute Tribe 4 5
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 14 2 5
Idaho Shoshone-Bannock Tribe 24 4 4
Michigan Saginaw Chippewa Tribe 2 6 9
Minnesota Boise Forte Tribe 8 1
Red Lake Chippewa Tribe 18 4 13
Mississippi Mississippi Band of Choctaw
Indians 32 8 17
Montana Blackfeet Tribe 34 34 12
Crow Tribe 12 2 5
Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribe 8 5
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe 21 21 19
Northern Cheyenne Tribe 10 3 3
Chippewa Cree Tribe 22 4 3
Confederated Tribes of Salish and
Kootenai 16 4 11
Nebraska Omaha Tribe 20 12 9

Table 37. Continued.
Capacity
State Tribe Adult Juvenile Staff
Nevada Battle Mountain, Duckwater, Ely,
Goshute, South Fork, Elko Band,
and Wells Band 28 5
New Mexico Jicarilla Apache Tribe 0 8 0
Laguna Pueblo Tribe 12 4 5
Mescalero Apache Tribe 24 7
Taos Pueblo 8 5
Ramah Navajo 10 5
Isleta Pueblo 6 6
Zuni Pueblo 22 12 13
Navajo Nation 41 14 21
North Dakota Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe 25 8 5
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe 42 8 8
Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe 22 8 8
Three Affiliated Tribes 8 6
Oklahoma Sac and Fox Nation 69 23
Oregon Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs 32 12 13
BIA Law Enforcement Services 4
South Dakota Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe 53 10 24
Crow Creek Sioux Tribe 10 4 2
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe 14 2 4
Oglala Sioux Tribe 52 32 31
Rosebud Sioux Tribe 48 16 12
Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe 16 4 5
Utah Uintah and Ouray Tribe 24 5
Washington Olympic Peninsula Tribe 14 4 8
Puget Sound Tribe 7 1 7
Kalispel and Spokane Tribe 8 4
Confederated Tribes of Yakama
Nation 30 17 10
Wisconsin Menominee Tribe 32 10 16
Wyoming Shoshone and Arapaho Tribe 26 4 6
Total 1,462 536 649
Note: Data were supplied by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the
Interior. Data are for April 1998. Staff of the facilities includes juvenile and adult
detention officers and dispatchers.

Sources of data on American local authorities may have overlapping
Indians and crime jurisdiction on tribal lands. Data about
some crimes are collected by the
One of the challenges facing all Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Indian
Federal statistical agencies is that country while other crimes by or
representative statistical data about against American Indians are recorded
American Indians are difficult to by local sheriffs or police. Arrest data
acquire and use. This is true for a are profoundly limited by the lack of
number of reasons with respect to information on arrest coverage among
crime data: tribal and BIA law enforcement
agencies.
Sampling & Most Federal surveys
utilize nationally representative Data on trends & Crime data relying
samples of persons or households, upon either samples of population or
thus limiting the capability to describe incident and case-level data from
small population subgroups in detail. administrative records suffers from the
(American Indians comprise under 1% lack of repetitive collection so that
of the U.S. population.) In addition, change rates and trends can be
sampling procedures, relying upon analyzed. Much data on the employ-
selection of respondents within ment, education, and quality of life
clustered geographical sampling units, measures of American Indians are only
may by chance miss those areas available from periodic collections and
where concentrations of residences of are often of only limited value for
small subgroups (such as American comparisons over time. Often many
Indians) may be located. Finally, the years have passed since they were last
fluidity of population movement conducted. Agencies do not generally
between tribal and nontribal areas for use some form of aggregation or multi-
both Indian and non-Indian populations year averages for examining change or
makes it difficult to systematically for comparisons to other racial or
describe those living in these areas. ethnic groups.
The 1990 Census revealed, for
example, that nearly half the population These limitations severely circumscribe
of reservation and trust lands was the depth and generalizability of data
non-Indian. on American Indians and inhibit the
Nation’s ability to know much of the
The design of national surveys such as details about victims, offenders, and
the NCVS does not permit calculating the consequences of crime for both.
separate statistics for each American BJS has made a strong commitment
Indian tribe. toward improving this situation through
the National Crime Victimization
Coverage of data & Statistical cover- Survey, improvements planned for the
age of incidents or cases in Indian National Incident-Based Reporting
country utilizing law enforcement, System, and periodic BJS surveys of
judicial, or corrections data is difficult to offender populations.
quantify because Federal, State, and

National Crime Victimization Survey One of the important contributions of
the NCVS is that it permits multiple
The National Crime Victimization years of responses to the same
Survey (NCVS) is one of two statistical questions to be analyzed, facilitating
series maintained by the Department of research on small subgroups of the
Justice to learn about the extent to population. For this study 5 years of
which crime is occurring. The NCVS, NCVS data (1992-96) were combined,
which gathers data on criminal victimi- resulting in more than 1.1 million inter-
zation from a national sample of house- views, just over 7,000 of which were
hold respondents, provides annual conducted among American Indians.
estimates of crimes experienced by the This represents the largest national
public without regard to whether a law sample of American Indians assembled
enforcement agency was called about for purposes of better understanding
the crime. Initiated in 1972, the NCVS the incidence and effects of criminal
was designed to complement what is victimization. In addition, changes are
known about crimes reported to local being introduced to the NCVS which will
law enforcement agencies under the permit future disaggregation of those
FBI's annual compilation known as the incidents occurring on tribal lands from
Uniform Crime Reports (UCR). those occurring elsewhere.
The NCVS gathers information about Uniform Crime Reporting program

crime and its consequences from a
nationally representative sample of U.S. The UCR program of the FBI provides
residents age 12 or older about any another opportunity to examine the
crimes they may have experienced. For issue of crime and violence among
personal contact crimes the survey American Indians through the incident-
asks about the perpetrator. Asking the based Supplementary Homicide Report
victim about his/her relationship to the program and the summary compilation
offender is critical to determining of national arrest data. The summary-
whether the crime occurred between based arrest component of the UCR
intimates. provides data by race of arrestees for
both Part I crimes and the less serious
In the latter half of the 1980's, BJS, with Part II crimes.
the Committee on Law and Justice of
the American Statistical Association, In 1996 detailed data by race and
sought to improve the NCVS compo- offense were available for about 3 out
nents to enhance the measurement of of 4 arrests nationwide (about 11.1
crimes including rape, sexual assault, million of the estimated 15.2 million
and intimate and family violence. The arrests that year). American Indians
new questions and revised procedures are estimated to account for just under
were phased in from January 1992 1% of those arrested for Part I violent
through June 1993 in half the sampled crimes and a slightly higher percentage
households. Since July 1993 the of those arrested for Part I property
redesigned methods have been used crimes. Part II arrest offenses show
for the entire national sample. that American Indians comprise larger
percentages of those arrested for DUI,

vagrancy, liquor law violations, and 7% of the U.S. population (about 19
public drunkenness. million Americans) and just over 6% of
all Index crimes (murders, rapes,
Specific UCR coverage of those robberies, aggravated assaults, burgla-
arrests by tribal or BIA law enforce- ries, larcenies, and motor vehicle
ment agencies is not known, and the thefts). In those States with certified
extent to which they are included in the NIBRS systems, about 50% of the
national estimates of arrests is not population is now covered by NIBRS
systematically described. In addition, reporting to the FBI.
the 1996 UCR does indicate reduced
reporting of arrests by race (table 43) BJS is currently funding preliminary
and that a number of jurisdictions studies of NIBRS data on two Indian
(Kentucky, Illinois, the District of reservations and their utility for improv-
Columbia, Florida, Vermont, Kansas, ing our knowledge of crime with special
and Montana) supplied either limited or regard for such concerns as intimate
no arrest data. Some of these incom- violence, family violence, and domestic
plete or missing States, notably violence and the role alcohol may play
Montana, may affect the national in these kinds of police-reported
estimates for American Indians. incidents. The Mille Lac (Minnesota)
and Lummi (Washington) tribal law
National Incident-Based Reporting enforcement agencies will use NIBRS
System data as a part of a case-tracking
system to follow the subsequent
The National Incident-Based Reporting processing of criminal incidents
System (NIBRS) represents the next brought to the attention of police.
generation of crime data from law
enforcement agencies. Rather than Surveys of probationers and jail
being restricted to a group of 8 Index and prison inmates
crimes that the summary-based
program uses, NIBRS obtains informa- BJS also conducts national surveys of
tion on 57 types of crimes. The infor- persons under probation supervision
mation collected on each violent crime and those confined in local jails and
incident includes victim-offender State and Federal prisons. These
demographics, victim-offender relation- nationally representative surveys are
ship, time and place of occurrence, the principal source of information on
weapon use, and victim injuries. An those serving time following a convic-
important contribution of NIBRS is that tion: their backgrounds, their prior
investigating officers are asked to criminal histories, and the circum-
record information on the race of stances surrounding the offense for
victims and offenders in the incident. which they had been incarcerated.
Both jail and prison surveys obtain
As of the end of 1997, jurisdictions from violent offenders details about the
certified by the FBI as capable of offender's relationship to the victim and
reporting incident-based data in the how the crime was carried out. All
required format accounted for just over surveys ask respondents to identify
their race and ethnicity.

Law Enforcement Management and reported felony sentencing data for
Administrative Statistics 1986 and has provided national
estimates at 2-year intervals since that
BJS maintains the Law Enforcement time.
Management and Administrative Statis-
tics (LEMAS) series as the principal In addition to the convicted felon’s race
national source of data on the opera- and ethnicity, NJRP obtains individual-
tions of police and sheriff’s departments level data on the conviction offense,
nationwide. LEMAS compiles informa- sentences received, case-processing,
tion every 3 to 4 years from all large law methods of conviction, and a wide
enforcement agencies (at least 100 variety of other defendant
sworn personnel) and a sample of all characteristics.
other departments. To create the
sample BJS also sponsors the Census Federal Justice Statistics Program
of State and Local Law Enforcement
Agencies, collecting basic information The Federal Justice Statistics Program
about the functions and number of (FJSP) provides annual data on
personnel of all agencies workload, activities, and case outcomes
in the United States. in the Federal criminal justice system.
Information is reported on all aspects of
LEMAS data are obtained on the case processing in the Federal justice
organization and administration of law system including the number of persons
enforcement agencies, agency respon- investigated, prosecuted, convicted,
sibilities, operating expenditures, job incarcerated, sentenced to probation,
functions, weapons policies, and released prior to trial, handled by
demographic characteristics of sworn magistrates, sentencing outcomes, and
personnel. BJS obtains similar informa- time served. Data for this series are
tion from campus law enforcement obtained from the Executive Office for
agencies and Federal law enforcement U.S. Attorneys, the Administrative
agencies. Office of the U.S. Courts, the U.S.
Sentencing Commission, and the
LEMAS data are available on the race Federal Bureau of Prisons.
and ethnicity of law enforcement
personnel since 1987. Data are available by defendant race
and ethnicity at each processing stage
National Judicial Reporting Program of the Federal criminal justice system.
The FJSP was initiated in 1980.
The National Judicial Reporting
Program (NJRP) is a biennial sample
survey of court records on convicted
felons nationwide. Using a nationally
representative sample of counties,
NJRP compiles information on the
sentences that felons receive in State
courts and on the characteristics of
convicted felons. The NJRP first

Numerical tables for the graphical
figures Highlights. Pages v and 4. Age of
victim, 1992-96
Cover. Violent victimization rates, Rate of violent victimization
1992-96 per 1,000 persons in each
group
Rate of violent victimiza- All American
tion per 1,000 persons Age of victim races Indians
under age 12 in each 12-17 116 171
group 18-24 100 232
All American 25-34 61 145
Age of victim races Indians 35-44 44 124
All violent 50 124 45-54 27 43
Murder* 9 7 55 or older 9 14
Rape/sexual assault 2 7
Robbery 6 12
Aggravated assault 11 35
Simple assault 31 70
Highlights. Page vi. Sex of victim,
1992-96
*The average annual murder rate is for Rate of violent victimization
100,000 persons, all ages, 1992-96. per 1,000 persons age 12 or
more in each group
All American
Highlights. Pages v and 2. Sex of victim races Indians
Violent victimizations, 1992-96 Male 60 153
Female 42 98
Number of violent
victimizations per
1,000 persons age Highlights. Page vi. Offender
12 or older race, 1992-96
All races 50 Percent of violent
American Indian 124 victimizations that
Black 61 Race of victim were interracial
White 49 American Indian 70%
Asian 29 Black 19
White 31
Asian 68
Highlights. Page v. Murder,
1992-1996
Highlights. Page vi. Alcohol use
Number of murders by the offender, 1992-96
Race of victim per 100,000 persons
American Indian 7 Percent of victims of
Black 34 violence reporting
White 5 Race of victim offender drinking
Asian 5 American Indian 46%
Black 28
White 36
Asian 22

Highlights. Page vi. Weapon use Highlights. Page viii. Under
by offender, 1992-96 correctional supervision or
control, 1997
Percent of violent
victimizations or murders Total under correc-
All American tional supervision or
Age of victim races Indians control per 100,000
Firearm in non- adults
lethal violence 11% 13% U.S. total 2,907
American Indian 4,193
Handgun in Black 9,863
lethal violence 50% 28% White 2,036
Asian 414
Highlights. Page vii. Crimes

reported to the police, 1992-96 Highlights. Page viii. In State or
Federal prison, 1997
Percent of violent
victimizations reported Number in prison per
Race of victim to the police 100,000 adults
American Indian 46% U.S. total 629
Black 50 American Indian 870
White 41 Black 2,895
Asian 39 White 335
Asian 104
Highlights. Page vii. Arrests

of adults and youth, 1996 Page 3. Simple assault rates,
1992-96
Number of arrests for Part I Number of simple
violent crimes per 100,000 assaults per 1,000
persons in each group Race of victim persons age 12 or older
Race of All Under American Indian 70
arrestees ages age 18 Black 30
American Indian 291 294 White 32
Black 937 1,356 Asian 15
White 182 283
Asian 98 192
Page 5. Location of victims
of violence, 1992-96
Highlights. Page vii. Arrests
for drug and alcohol offenses, Number of violent victimiza-
1997 tion per 1,000 persons age
12 or more in each group
Number of arrests Residence All American
per 100,000 persons of victim races Indians
Arrest All American Rural 37 89
offense races Indians Suburban 48 138
Drug 592 344 Urban 65 207
Alcohol-related 1,064 2,550

Page 6. Victim-offender Page 19. Number of murders of
relationship in violent American Indians, 1976-96
victimizations, by race, 1992-96
Number of murders of
Percent of violent American Indians
victimizations 1976 140
Victim-offender All American 1977 140
relationship races Indians 1978 123
Intimate 10.7% 8.9% 1979 146
Family 4.7 6.7 1980 154
Acquaintance 33.7 38.7 1981 140
Stranger 50.8 45.7 1982 167
1983 152
1984 133
1985 141
Page 8. Characteristics of intimate 1986 176
and family violence among 1987 151
American Indians, 1992-96 1988 133
1989 151
1990 150
Percent of violent
1991 152
victimizations against
1992 158
American Indians
1993 141
Family
1994 133
Intimates members
1995 161
Interracial 75% 25% 1996 134
Alcohol-involved 58 67
Victims injured 59 49
Page 21. Murders by someone

Page 10. Violent offender use of a different race from the victim,
of alcohol, by victim-offender by race of victim and type
relationship and race, 1992-96 of murder, 1976-96
Percent of violent victimi- Percent of murder victims

zations in which the killed by someone of a
victims felt certain they different race, committed
could distinguish alcohol during &
use by the offender Race of Commission An
Victim-offender All American murder victim of a felony argument
relationship races Indians American Indian 74% 38%
Intimate 64.7% 60.9% Black 8 5
Family 49.2 76.5 White 43 9
Acquaintance 36.1 40.0 Asian 80 27
Stranger 28.9 42.0

Page 23. Murder weapons used, Page 30. Map of Federal district
by race of victim, 1992-96 courts. Investigations by U.S.
attorneys of suspects in Indian
Percent of murder country, fiscal year 1996
victims
All American
Weapon* races Indians Number of suspects
Handgun 50.3% 28.1% U.S. district from American
Rifle/shotgun 11.2 17.0 court Indian country
Other firearm 4.5 1.6 Northern Alabama 2
Knife 18.5 29.1 Arizona 355
Blunt object 5.3 8.0 Central California 2
Personal weapon, Northern California 2
including hands Southern California 1
and feet 6.1 11.3 Colorado 21
Other types Middle Florida 3
of weapons 4.1 4.9 Southern Florida 1
Northern Iowa 3
*Excludes cases in which type of weapon Idaho 47
is unknown. Northern Illinois 1
Western Louisiana 5
Maine 3
Page 24. Arrests of adults and Eastern Michigan 6
Western Michigan 10
youth for violent crimes, by race, Minnesota 15
1996 Montana 115
Number of arrests for Part I Western North Carolina 21
violent crimes per 100,000 North Dakota 149
persons in each group, 1996 Nebraska 21
Race of All Under New Mexico 333
arrestees ages age 18 Nevada 7
All races 275 445 Northern New York 1
American Indian 291 294 Eastern Oklahoma 66
Black 937 1,356 Northern Oklahoma 31
White 182 283 Western Oklahoma 44
Asian 98 192 Oregon 6
Western Pennsylvania 1
South Dakota 479
Utah 46
Page 29. Use of alcohol by Eastern Washington 58
convicted jail inmates at the time Western Washington 19
of their offense, by offense type Eastern Wisconsin 15
and race, 1996 Western Wisconsin 2
Wyoming 24
Percent of convicted jail Source: Federal Justice Statistics Program

inmate reporting alcohol
use at the time of their
offense
Most serious All American
offense races Indians
All offenses 39.5% 48.8%
Violent 40.6 71.0
Property 32.8 37.1
Drug 28.8 14.3
Public-order 56.0 60.2

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U.S.

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Average annual number of violent victimizations per 1,000

Number of violent victimizations per

Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D.

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

For information contact:

February 1999, NCJ 173386

ii American Indians and Crime

American Indians and Crime iii

Age • Rates of violence in every age group

0 50 100 150 200 250

American Indians and Crime v

Sex of victims • Rates of violent victimization for both

Alcohol use by offender*

American Indian • American Indian victims of violence

Weapon use by offender

0% 20% 40% 60%

vi American Indians and Crime

American Indian • American Indian victims of violence

Arrests of adults and youth

Asian • Violent crime arrest rates for American

Arrests for drug and alcohol

American Indians and Crime vii

In State or Federal prison • In 1997 about 16,000 American

viii American Indians and Crime

American Indians and Crime 1

American Indians and Crime 1

American Indians are overrepresented among victims

2 American Indians and Crime

Number of victimizations per 1,000 persons

Table 4. Violent crime, by type of crime and race of victim, 1992-96

Percent of violent victimizations

American Indians and Crime 3

The violent crime rate among Ameri- 18-24

4 American Indians and Crime

Percent of violent victimizations

Suburban About half (52%) of the violent crimes

American Indians with

American Indians and Crime 5

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Victim-offender relationship involved an offender who was an

Table 8. Violent victimizations of American Indians,

6 American Indians and Crime

American Indian victims of rape/sexual assault most often reported that

Two-thirds or more of the American Indian victims of robbery,

Percent of American Indian victims, 1992-96

White 63% 82% 55% 61% 59%

American Indians and Crime 7

Intimate and family violence

Most striking among American Indian victims of violence is the substantial

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

8 American Indians and Crime

Offenders’ use of alcohol and drugs reported by American Indian

According to American Indian victims of violence, offender

Race of Percent of victimizations in which the offender was perceived using&

White/white 36% 8% 1% 48%

American Indians and Crime 9