1. Sources of Crime Data The Uniform Crime Report
Compiled by the F.B.I. (annually)
Over 17,000 police departments report data

2. Part 1 Crimes
Part 1 Crimes are the 8 most serious crimes 1. Murder 2. Rape 3. Robbery 4. Burglary 5. Arson 6. Larceny 7. Motor Vehicle Theft 8. Assault

3. Part 2 Crimes
All other crimes. The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) collects data on both Part 1 and Part 2 Crimes

4. Cleared Crimes
When crimes are no longer under the control of the police department: Someone is arrested, charged and turned over to the court. The offender leaves the country.

5. Crime Rate
Determined by the number of crimes per 100,000 people.

6. Validity of UCR
Questionable: Many crimes are not reported. Police Departments make errors in reporting. Only most serious crime is reported. (Could be many crimes committed during one criminal event)

7. The National Incident-Based Reporting System
(NIBRS) Expanded UCR in 1970’s. Requires an accounting of each incident and arrest within 22 crime patterns. Includes incidents and victim and offender information.

8. Surveys
Involves Samples. A sample is a limited number that represents the larger population. Examples: College students Prisoners Police officers Etc.

9. The National Crime Victims Survey
(NCVS)
Conducted by the U.S Justice Department and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Data is from a large representative sample.
(77,000 households and 134,000 individuals were interviewed in 2005)

10. The National Crime Victims Survey
Cont.
Asks people to report on their own victimization.
Validity problems include:
Under and over reporting by victims.
Sampling errors.
Inadequate questions

11. Self Report Surveys
Questions people about their participation in criminal activity. Also asks about attitudes and behaviors. Correlation then be made between personal factors and criminal behavior.

12. Self Report Surveys
Cont. Validity problems: People exaggerate or deny criminal activity. Some surveys contain too many trivial offenses.

13. Self Report Surveys
Monitoring the Future Study Example of a Self Report Survey Has been doing self reporting of High School Seniors on a yearly basis since (looking for crime trends)

14. Crime Trends
ESSAY:
Pick a crime and examine how it has changed over time. Can be a Transnational Crime or a Crime in a specific country. Write a 3 page double spaced report and be sure to document your sources of information and the methods used.

15. Crime Patterns
Traits and patterns that influence crime. Temporal and ecological factors: (Day, Season and Climate) More crimes occur in July and August. Factors include heat, young people out of school and people on vacation.

16. Crime Patterns
Cont. More crimes occur on the first day of the month when many people get paid. (more high risk behavior such as drinking and gambling occur)

17. Crime Patterns
Cont. Temperature: More crimes occur when it is HOT. More crimes are committed in the Summer. Urban versus Rural More crimes occur in urban areas.

18. Crime Patterns
Cont. Firearms: According to the NCVS firearms are involved in: 20% of Robberies 10% of Assaults 5% of Rapes

19. Crime Patterns
Firearms cont. Criminals of ALL racial and ethnic groups are equally likely to use firearms. According to the UCR two thirds of all murders involve firearms. (Mostly handguns)

21. Social Class, Socioeconomics and Crime
According to the UCR the lower class, unemployed and under employed have higher crime rates. More police resources are devoted to poorer neighborhoods resulting in more arrests and convictions.

22. Social Class, Socioeconomics and Crime
According to cross cultural research
wealthier nations have lower rates of
violence then poor nations.

23. Age and Crime
Youth between 13 and 17 commit 25% of crimes and 17% of all arrests in the U.S. Aging out of crime: Crime rates decline following adolescence.

24. Gender and Crime
Lombroso – “Masculinity Hypothesis” “Masculine” females are who commit the small amount of female crimes.

26. Race and Crime
African Americans make up 12% of the population yet account for: 29% of property crime arrests. 39% of violent Part 1 crime arrests.

27. Race and Crime
Poor, minority and male suspects are more likely to be arrested then white, affluent and female suspects.

28. Race and Crime
Racial Threat Theory: As the percentage of African American people increases in an area, so does the amount of social control directed by police at blacks.

29. Race and Crime
Racial and ethnic high crime rate may also be tied to: Living in high risk crime areas. Poor neighborhoods Under funded and deteriorating schools.

30. Chronic Offenders
A small group of offenders accounting for the majority of crime. Wolfgang (1972) Studied 10,000 youth born in 1945 “The Chronic 6%”

31. The Chronic 6%
Results: 6% were responsible for 51% of all offenses committed by the cohort. 6% committed 71% of the homicides. 6% committed 73% of the rapes.

32. The Chronic 6%
Cont. 6% committed 82% of the robberies. 6% committed 69% of aggravated assaults. Study was frequently replicated (including Orange County, Ca.) Resulted in tougher punishment. ( 3 strikes)

33. High Risk High Need
(HRHN) Developed to find solutions for the Chronic 6% as a collaboration between: L.A. County Probation Department L.A. Police Department L.A. County Sheriffs Department L.A. Housing Authority L.A. Parks Department And numerous Community Based Organizations.