Abstract:
This study analyzed crime statistics of 2011/2012 with objectives to compare the characteristics of criminals based on
correlates of crime such as age, gender, types of occupation, level of education, and marital status and to examine features
of victimization by age and sex. The study was conducted in Oromia National Regional State. Police crime data of 2011/2012
were used. Furthermore, key informant interview was used. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies, and
ratios were primarily used to analyze the aggregate police data. It is found that sociocultural and structural factors affect
criminality and victimization patterns. The total number of criminals reported to and recorded by the police was 96,300,
which constitute 85,100 male and 11,200 female offenders. About 37% of these criminals committed violent crime. The
ratio of male to female offenders was 7.6:1. The dominance of male over female both in criminality and victimization is the
extension of their social position in social structure and result of gender role socialization. Age group 19 to 30 was found to
be the most criminal population with the criminal rate of 828 per 100,000 people. Unfortunately, the relationship between
educational status, types of occupation/employment, and marital status on one hand and criminality on the other were less
than conclusive mainly because of lack of adequate information on such variables for individual criminals and victims or the
fact that the police data were only aggregate ones. Victimization rate was higher for males and 31 to 50 age category.
