Workplace Violence, 1992-96

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

ADVANCE FOR RELEASE AT 4:30 P.M. EDT        BJS
SUNDAY, JULY 26, 1998              202/307-0784

revised 7/28/98 

    ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE ATTACKED OR THREATENED 
            IN THE WORKPLACE EVERY YEAR

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- About 2 million people a
year were victims of violent crime or threatened
violent crime in the workplace from 1992 through
1996, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice
Statistics (BJS) announced today.  An estimated
1.5 million of such incidents (75 percent) were
simple assaults.  Of the occupations examined, law
enforcement officers, corrections officers  and
taxicab drivers were victimized at the highest
rates.

     During this same 1992-1996 period, an average
of about 330,000 retail employees were victimized 
annually, and about 84,000 employees were robbed
in the workplace.

      Between 1994 and 1996 violent victimizations
in the workplace decreased by 21 percent,
paralleling a 17 percent decline in overall
violent crime during that period.

     BJS Director Jan Chaiken said: "About 37
percent of the victims of workplace violence said
they knew their offenders, but very few--only
about 1 percent--were victimized by a current or
former spouse,  boyfriend or girlfriend in
contrast to other violent incidents.  Nationwide,
21 percent of all violence against women and 2
percent of violence against men is committed by
intimates."

     Among all workplace victims of  violent
crimes or threats of violence, 67 percent were
male and 33 percent were female.  About 12 percent
of the victimizations resulted in injuries, about
half of which received medical attention. 

     The estimated annual victimizations for the
years 1992 through 1996 for workplace crimes
counted in BJS's National Crime Victimization
Survey and by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
were as follows:
          Simple assaults                 1.5 million
          Aggravated assaults                 396,000
          Robberies                            84,000
          Rapes and sexual assaults            51,000
          Homicides                             1,000

     The rate of violence per 1,000 workers during
the five-year period for selected occupations was
as follows:
     Law enforcement officer                      306
     Prison or jail corrections officer           218
     Taxi driver                                  184 
     Private security guard                       117 
     Bartender                                     91
     Mental health professional                    80     
     Gas station attendant                         79 
     Convenience or liquor store clerk             68
     Mental health custodial worker                63
     Junior high/middle school teacher             57
     Bus driver                                    45
     Special education teacher                     41
     High school teacher                           29
     Elementary school teacher                     16
     College or university teacher                  3 

     The occupations examined included those that
prior studies have deemed to be more vulnerable to
criminal victimizations.  Fewer than half of all
nonfatal workplace crimes are reported to police.

     BLS data showed that homicide was the second
leading cause of death in the workplace, following
highway fatalities, during the five-year study
period.  The workplace murders accounted for one
of every six fatal occupational injuries. 

     Firearms were used to commit more than 80
percent of the workplace homicides.  About 20
percent were the result of bombings, stabbings or
beatings.  This figure includes employees among
the 168 deaths from the 1995 bombing of the Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

     The report, "Workplace Violence, 1992-96"
(NCJ-168634) was written by BJS statistician Greg
Warchol.  Single  copies may be obtained from the
BJS fax-on-demand system by dialing 301/519-5550,
listening to the menu, and selecting document
number 118 or by calling the BJS Clearinghouse at
1-800/732-3277.  The BJS Internet site is:         
            http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

     Additional criminal justice materials can be
obtained from the Office of Justice Programs 
Internet homepage at:                         
              http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov

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BJS98150  
After hours contact:  Stu Smith at 301/983-9354

revised 7/28/98