1. Measuring Crime CJ 601 Research Methodology in Criminal Justice Dr. Louis Veneziano

2. Introduction Crime is commonly used as a dependent variable Crime is commonly used as a dependent variable Fundamentally important to measure crime Fundamentally important to measure crime

3. Conceptual Definition of Crime Crimes are acts of force or fraud undertaken in pursuit of self-interest Crimes are acts of force or fraud undertaken in pursuit of self-interest Crime results from a lack of socialization Crime results from a lack of socialization People who lack self-control commit crime People who lack self-control commit crime

4. Operational Definition of Crime  Violation of societal rules listed in a legal code  Created by people with power  People who violate these rules are subject to state sanctions

5. Purposes of Measuring Crime 1. Monitoring (surveillance) 2. Agency Accountability 3. Research

6. Ways of Measuring Crime 1. Official Government Statistics 2. Self-Report Surveys 3. Victim Surveys

7. Official Government Statistics Uniform Crime Report Uniform Crime Report National Incident-Based Reporting System National Incident-Based Reporting System Drug Surveillance Systems Drug Surveillance Systems

8. Uniform Crime Report FBI FBI 1930 1930 Voluntary Voluntary

9. Part I Offenses Crimes reported to the police Crimes reported to the police Dark Figure of Crime Dark Figure of Crime Violent Crimes Violent Crimes Crimes Against the Person Crimes Against the Person Confrontation with victim Confrontation with victim Property Crimes Property Crimes No confrontation with victim No confrontation with victim

10. Violent Offenses Murder Murder Robbery Robbery Rape Rape Aggravated Assault Aggravated Assault

11. Property Offenses Burglary Burglary Larceny Larceny Motor Vehicle Theft Motor Vehicle Theft (Arson) (Arson)

12. Part II Offenses All other crimes other than traffic offenses All other crimes other than traffic offenses Number of people arrested Number of people arrested

13. Problems with the UCR Hierarchy Rule Hierarchy Rule Underestimate Underestimate Unreported crime Unreported crime Low clearance rates Low clearance rates

14. National Incident-Based Reporting System Reporting each crime incident rather than a summary-based measure of crime in a jurisdiction Reporting each crime incident rather than a summary-based measure of crime in a jurisdiction Information about: Information about: Situation Situation Offender Offender Offense Offense Victim Victim

15. Drug Surveillance Systems Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Drug Abuse Warning Network Drug Abuse Warning Network Drug episodes Drug episodes Pulse Check Pulse Check Qualitative Qualitative

16. Model of Crime Biological Sociocultural Offender Situation Victim Offense

17. Self-Report Surveys Self-Report Surveys Self-Report Surveys National Household Survey on Drug Abuse National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Monitoring the Future Monitoring the Future

18. Victim Surveys National Crime Victimization Survey National Crime Victimization Survey 1972 1972