Psychological and Behavioral Effects of Bias- and Non-Bias-Motivated Assault in Boston, Massachusetts, 1992-1997
Description
This study sought to inform various issues related to the
extent of victims' adverse psychological and behavioral reactions to
aggravated assault differentiated by the offenders' bias or non-bias
motives. The goals of the research included (1) identifying the
individual and situational factors related to bias- and
non-bias-motivated aggravated assault, (2) determining the comparative
severity and duration of psychological after-effects attributed to the
victimization experience, and (3) measuring the comparative extent of
behavioral avoidance strategies of victims. Data were collected on all
560 cases from the Boston Police Department's Community Disorders Unit
from 1992 to 1997 that involved victim of a bias-motivated aggravated
assault. In addition, data were collected on a 10-percent stratified
random sample of victims of non-bias assaults within the city of
Boston from 1993 to 1997, resulting in another 544 cases. For each of
the cases, information was collected from each police incident
report. Additionally, the researchers attempted to contact each victim
in the sample to participate in a survey about their victimization
experiences. The victim questionnaires included questions in five
general categories: (1) incident information, (2) police response, (3)
prosecutor response, (4) personal impact of the crime, and (5)
respondent's personal characteristics. Criminal history variables were
also collected regarding the number and type of adult and juvenile
arrest charges against offenders and victims, as well as dispositions
and arraignment dates.