1. Introduction CJ601

2. Research in CJ Consuming vs. producing research Consuming vs. producing research Evaluating research—see example p. 4-5 Evaluating research—see example p. 4-5 Knowledge Knowledge —agreement, common sense —agreement, common sense crime victimization and the elderly crime victimization and the elderly punishment severity and deterrence punishment severity and deterrence

3. Research Knowledge that is the result of empirical research Knowledge that is the result of empirical research Empirical—based on systematic observation Empirical—based on systematic observation Example: Differential association Example: Differential association

4. Errors in observation Inaccurate observation Inaccurate observation Overgeneralizing Overgeneralizing Selective observation Selective observation Adolescent sex offenders and planning skills—more complicated than thought Illogical reasoning Superstition, gambler’s fallacy

5. Politics and CJ Controversy over crime Controversy over crime “Liberals” vs. “conservatives” “Liberals” vs. “conservatives” Death penalty Death penalty Racial profiling Racial profiling War on Drugs War on Drugs Guns and crime Guns and crime Prisons as country clubs Prisons as country clubs

6. Social patterns Search for regularities Search for regularities Example: most common pattern is that males kill males, least common pattern is female-female Example: most common pattern is that males kill males, least common pattern is female-female Crime in the US tends to be intraracial Crime in the US tends to be intraracial There are exceptions to the patterns There are exceptions to the patterns The pattern tells us what is more common The pattern tells us what is more common Probabilities (odds, percentages for ex) Probabilities (odds, percentages for ex)

7. Idiographic Idiographic vs. nomothetic Idiographic vs. nomothetic Idiographic—a case study, for example Idiographic—a case study, for example Charles Manson Charles Manson Serial killers Serial killers Might thoroughly explain a case Might thoroughly explain a case Nomothetic—try to explain a class of events. There will be exceptions or cases that don’t fit Nomothetic—try to explain a class of events. There will be exceptions or cases that don’t fit

8. Variables Attributes are characteristics, quality we might use to describe someone Attributes are characteristics, quality we might use to describe someone Variables are logical groupings of attributes Variables are logical groupings of attributes Gender—variable, attributes are male and female Gender—variable, attributes are male and female Unemployed, work part time, work full time are attributes of employment status Unemployed, work part time, work full time are attributes of employment status

9. Variables Sentence might be the variable, attributes could include fine, probation, jail, prison Sentence might be the variable, attributes could include fine, probation, jail, prison Independent and dependent variables Independent and dependent variables One variable (IV) has an effect on another (DV) One variable (IV) has an effect on another (DV) Does level of supervision (IV) affect delinquency (DV)? Does level of supervision (IV) affect delinquency (DV)? Other examples? Other examples?

10. Reasoning Inductive: specific to the general, observations to pattern Inductive: specific to the general, observations to pattern Durkheim (father of sociology) Durkheim (father of sociology) Deductive: testing a general idea Deductive: testing a general idea Social capital and crime Social capital and crime Peer pressure and crime Peer pressure and crime

11. Types of data Qualitative—descriptive Qualitative—descriptive Interviews and observations Interviews and observations Quantitative—measuring in terms of numbers Quantitative—measuring in terms of numbers Qualitative “religious” Qualitative “religious” Quantitative—church attendance, amount of time reported praying, reading religious works, etc, self-ratings, ratings of others Quantitative—church attendance, amount of time reported praying, reading religious works, etc, self-ratings, ratings of others

12. Crime rates in the US Rise beginning in the late 1950s Rise beginning in the late 1950s Continuing into the mid 1980s, began to level off, with some increase into the 1990s Continuing into the mid 1980s, began to level off, with some increase into the 1990s Declines in the 1990s to the present Declines in the 1990s to the present NYC, decline in homicide by 2/3 from early 1990s to 2002 NYC, decline in homicide by 2/3 from early 1990s to 2002 Why? Why?

13. Basis for comparison General decline in crime in the US, not just New York city General decline in crime in the US, not just New York city International comparisons: crime also increased and decreased in other industrialized nations, even though rates vary from country to country, and our violent crime rates are higher International comparisons: crime also increased and decreased in other industrialized nations, even though rates vary from country to country, and our violent crime rates are higher Why? Why?

14. Comparison Comparisons force us to look at various possibilities that might not otherwise be considered Comparisons force us to look at various possibilities that might not otherwise be considered Ex: Comparisons of crime rates and incarceration rates, by state or with other countries Ex: Comparisons of crime rates and incarceration rates, by state or with other countries Ex: guns and crime Ex: guns and crime

15. Policy implications Crime more common among the young, declines with age Crime more common among the young, declines with age Supported by all 3 measures of crime Supported by all 3 measures of crime Interviews of offenders Interviews of offenders Longitudinal studies Longitudinal studies Common pattern, some exceptions Common pattern, some exceptions Cannot be entirely explained by incarceration Cannot be entirely explained by incarceration

16. Implications What are the implications for long prison sentences? What are the implications for long prison sentences? 3 strikes and you’re out laws? 3 strikes and you’re out laws? In deciding policy what are some other considerations besides this research? In deciding policy what are some other considerations besides this research?