“People’s fear of crime doesn’t come from looking over their shoulders. It comes from looking at their television screens.” Robert Lichter, director of the Center for Meida and Public Affairs, Los Angeles Times, 1994

How much crime is there? How do we know how many murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries, and other crimes there are each year? Where do crime statistics come from?

How do we know? Since 1930, police departments from across the country have sent crime data to the FBI for inclusion in its Uniform Crime Reports, which lists 8 index crimes Violent CrimesProperty Crimes Homicide Forcible Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary Larceny/Theft Motor Vechile Theft Arson

What are some weaknesses of the UCR? 1.It does not attempt to account for all crime – only crime reported to the police. 2.It relies on police department to relay the information accurately.

National Crime Victimization Survey Twice a year, the survey polls 42,000 households, representing about 75,000 people over age 12. Following a detailed questionnaire, poll takers ask individuals if they have been victims of rape, robbery, assault, larceny, burglary, or car theft. Unlike the UCR the NCVS reflects both reported and unreported crimes.

What are some weaknesses of the NCVS? 1.It cannot count homicides. 2.It doesn’t include crimes against businesses, such as robberies & burglaries. 3.It only interviews people over the age of 12.

The Trend of Crime Crime Rates: the amount of crime per person The UCR calculates these rates as the number of crimes for every 100,000 persons. The NCVS usually calculates them for every 1,000 persons over 12, or every 1,000 household for property crime.

Crime in the United States Crime by Region Crime in NJ By College