Victimological Survey, October 2003

As well respondents assessed the level of risk of becoming a victim of crime in the living environment of a respondent, in Lithuania, other Baltic States, Central European countries, Western European countries, the United States, Russia and CIS countries. They were asked to identify the most insecure Lithuanian regional centres regarding primes and security/insecurity feeling during summer time in the Lithuanian resorts: Palanga, Neringa, Druskininkai, near lakes, in the gardens, forests.

It was investigated respondents' opinion about insecurity/security of crimes and criminal faults to public life (crimes against humanity and war crimes; crimes against the independence of the Lithuanian state, territorial integrity and constitutional order; against human health and life; personal life, honour and dignity; property; intellectual and industrial property; informatics; property rights and property interests; civil service and public interests, traffic safety, memory of the departed etc.) and they were asked to evaluate the work of the Government, the Seimas, President, political parties, media, Special Investigation Service (SIS), police, courts, prosecution service, imprisonment institutions and non-governmental organisations in reducing the number of crimes in Lithuania.

The efficiency of punishment / penalties in reducing crimes in society (deprivation of public rights; the right to do a certain job or engage in a certain activity; public works; fine; restriction of freedom; arrest; fixed-term deprivation of freedom; fear of death; physical punishment) was assessed and opinion on application of penalties for murder, rape, bodily injury, robbery, thefts, bribery and hooliganism was identified.

Also respondents answered following questions: have they/their relatives or neighbours become victims of crime during the recent 12 months / during the recent 5 years; the place of the experienced crime (becoming a victim) during the recent 5 years: residential area, other Lithuanian city or village, foreign country; frequency of becoming a victim of crimes (rape; bodily injury; robbery; thefts; bribery; hooliganism) personally by a respondent, relatives or neighbours during the recent 5 years; the last experienced crime during the recent 5 years (rape; bodily injury; robbery; thefts; bribery; and hooliganism), its place (residential area; other Lithuanian city or village; foreign country); the first institution respondents applied to straight after a crime (police, relatives, neighbours, media, workplace etc.); ways for applying to the police: by phone, via mediators, visit to the police Office; assistance of police officers after application to the police; behaviour of law enforcement officers who investigated a crime.

Respondents assessed the level of importance of various sources of information on crimes and criminal justice in Lithuania; evaluated their own knowledge about the National Programme for Control and Prevention of Crimes in Lithuania and expressed opinion on implementation of the National Programme for Control and Prevention of Crimes in Lithuania. Socio-demographic characteristics: gender, age, education, occupation, nationality, type of household, monthly income per family member, place of residence, region.