The Nature and Extent of Crime - Lecture Slides | SOC 104, Study notes of Criminology

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Chapter Two

The Nature and

Extent of Crime

Crime data

 Helps formulate theories that explain onset of crime  Helps devise social policies that facilitate its control or elimination  Accurate data is necessary to assess the nature and extent of crime, to track changes in the crime rate and to measure the individual and social factors influencing criminality

UCR

 This includes both crimes reported to, and the number of arrests made by local law enforcement departments.  The major unit of analysis involves index, or Part I crimes:  (^) Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter  Forcible rape  (^) Robbery  (^) Aggravated assault  (^) Burglary  (^) Larceny  (^) Arson  (^) Motor vehicle thefts

 In addition, the UCR shows the number and characteristics (age, race and gender) of individuals who have been arrested for these and all other crimes (except traffic violations or Part II crimes).  http://www.fbi.gov/

UCR

Why the difference?

 The media—it gives more attention to serious violent crimes so police devote more time and resources to these investigations.  Prior association—the victims and attackers of many violent crimes know each other, often making investigations simpler.

Validity of the UCR

 There are three main areas of concern about the accuracy of the UCR. 

1. reporting practices 
2. law enforcement practices 
3. methodological problems

Survey Research

 Sampling—process of selecting for study a limited number of subjects who are representative of entire groups sharing similar characteristics or the population.  Cross-sectional survey—representative of all members of society. Useful and cost- effective technique for measuring characteristics of large numbers of people.

National Crime Victimization Survey

(NCVS)

 (^) Comprehensive, nationwide survey of victimization in the U.S. provides details of crime incidents, victims and trends.  (^) Collects information on crimes suffered by individuals and households, whether or not those crimes were reported to law enforcement.  Estimates the proportion of each crime type reported to law enforcement.  Summarizes the reasons that victims give for reporting or not reporting.

 In addition questions cover the experiences of victims with the criminal justice system, self-protective measures used by victims and possible substance abuse by offenders.  http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACJD/NCVS/

National Crime Victimization Survey

(NCVS)

Advantages of NCVS

 Can estimate the total amount of annual crimes, a more accurate assessment of the nation’s crime problem.  Can help to create an understanding why crimes are not reported to police and whether the type and nature of the crime influences whether the police will ever know it happened.

Secondary Sources of Crime Data

 Cohort research—observing a group of people who share a like characteristic over time.  Retrospective cohort study—simpler and less expensive, an intact cohort from the past and collect data from educational, family, police and hospital records in order to find trends for that cohort.

Experimental Research

 Criminologists manipulate or intervene in the lives of subjects in order to see the outcome or the effect of that intervention.  Three elements are present: random selection of subjects, a control or comparison group, and an experimental condition.  These experiments are rare as they are difficult, expensive, often causing ethical and legal roadblocks, and requiring long follow-up periods to verify results

Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

 Meta-analysis—gathering data from previous studies and grouping it together in order to indicate relationships.  Systematic review—collecting findings from previous scientific studies, appraising and synthesizing the evidence and using this collective evidence to address a particular scientific question.

Crime Mapping

 Crime maps display crime locations or concentrations and can be used to chart trends in criminal activity.  A federal program aiding local law enforcement in analyzing crime series and patterns is CATCH (Crime Analysis Tactical Clearing House).