Oregon Neighborhood Safety Survey

The State of Oregon's Neighborhood Safety Survey is designed to gather information about quality of life, community safety, and crime experiences from a diverse range of residents. It asks questions about safety in your neighborhood, interactions with police, and whether you've been a victim of crime. The survey also collects basic demographic information to ensure a representative sample. Participation in the survey is voluntary and takes most people about 15 minutes to complete.

The survey is conducted to gather insights on community safety and crime, helping state and local decision-makers address concerns not captured by other sources. Your input can shape policies and efforts to improve safety, reduce crime, and enhance quality of life in your neighborhood, making a real difference where you live.

Current residents who received an invitation letting them know they have been randomly selected to participate. They must also be 18 years old or older and have lived in Oregon for at least the past 12 months. The web survey and invitation ask that the adult (aged 18+) in your household with the next birthday (that is, coming up next) take the survey. This is a random way to decide who should fill out the survey for households with more than one adult.

Your address was randomly selected from the most recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Computerized Delivery Sequence File (CDSF) of residential addresses in Oregon. ICF can’t replace your household with another. If ICF doesn’t hear from you, households and people with experiences like yours will be under-represented in the results. ICF is interested in people and households with a wide range of experiences and opinions, so everyone’s input is important.

This survey asks general quality of life questions, such as if you have ever seen things in your community that make you feel unsafe. It also asks about interactions with the police and whether you have been the victim of a crime. Basic demographic questions about you and your household are also included to make sure the survey results are based on a representative sample of the state. For the findings to be representative, ICF needs to hear from people with a wide range of experiences.

All your answers are kept private and confidential. The survey does not gather your name or who lives at your address. Address information is kept separate from survey responses. All data will be combined with other peoples' responses and reported in groups for statistical purposes so individuals cannot be identified. Only the researchers have access to the data, and all have been trained in confidentiality protection. Data is always stored on password protected servers and computers. The study has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research.

No. Participation is completely voluntary. However, without your answers, people and households with experiences and opinions like yours won't be fully represented in the findings. If you decide to start the survey, you can stop at any point, and you can skip any question you are uncomfortable answering, do not know the answer to, or prefer not to answer.

Yes, the results of the survey will be shared publicly after the data has been collected and analyzed. Results of the data analysis or a summary report are usually released within 24 months. Oregon Statistical Analysis Center

The survey takes most people about 15 minutes to complete. You can pause the survey at any point and come back later using the web address and ID in your invitation letter. If ICF does not receive a completed survey from your household, ICF may try to contact you as a reminder to complete it.

The State of Oregon, policymakers, researchers, and victim advocates will use the results to understand neighborhood quality of life and safety issues. Since your input can shape policies and ongoing efforts in the state, participating may benefit you and those close to you in the long run.

ICF mails $1 to everyone as a way of saying thank you in advance for participating. Participants will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift code for completing the survey.

ICF, the independent research company hired by the State of Oregon to conduct this survey, is headquartered in Fairfax, VA. Its mailing and data processing facility is in Martinsville, VA.

Thank you! Sometimes we mail out reminders or call before we receive your completed survey. If you've completed it, you don't have to do anything else.

The survey is sponsored by the State of Oregon. ICF is an independent research contractor hired to collect the data.

Some questions on this survey may be sensitive in nature. If a part of this survey makes you feel uncomfortable, please consider reaching out to one of the mental health support hotlines that are listed below.

National Helpline

To talk about a mental health issue, an alcohol or substance use-related issue, or to find out about treatment programs in your area, you can call 1-800-662-HELP (which is 1-800-662-4357). You can also send your zip code via text message to 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

To talk about suicide, feelings of depression, or to find out more about suicide treatment options in your area, simply dial or text 988 or call 1-800-273-TALK (which is 1-800-273-8255).

Sexual Assault Hotline

To talk to a trained counselor about sexual violence, please call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Domestic Violence Hotline

To speak to a trained counselor about domestic violence, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Child Abuse Hotline

To speak to a trained counselor about child abuse, please call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).