(REVIEW OF CHAPT 2):

OFFICIAL statistics

VICTIMIZATION surveys

SELF-REPORT surveys

All have problems (surveys: Reporting bias; Under-reporting)

REMEMBER: Stats are for STREET CRIMES: (arson, car theft,
larceny-theft, murder, rapes, burglary, robbery, aggravated
assaults).

REMEMBER: UCR data are for STREET CRIMES, which constitute
only about 2 pct of the total SOCIAL COSTS OF CRIMES

REMEMBER: DARK FIGURE OF CRIME

REMEMBER: It's TRENDS:

   total crime indx   viol crime    prop crime
   (rate per 100,000 people)

 1960      1,887          161           1,726
 1970      3,985          364           3,621
 1980      5,950          596           5,353
 1990      5,820          732           5,089
 1993      5,483          746           4,747

REMEMBER: DATA DO NOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. They give a picture,
and different sources allow us to put together trends and
a reasonably clear picture of the problem.
1) They are NOT objectiive facts (ie, not "neutral" or
"unbiased"); 2) The data are defined by concepts/definitions;
3) They are subject to error;

A few factoids:

1) Our course, our book, and society focuses on STREET CRIME
(ie, FBI index crimes). Yet, street crime accounts for less
than 20 percent of *all* crimes (some accounts say about 1/3,
but that's still low); VIOLENT CRIME accounts for only
about 13.6 percent of all index crime
(in '93, roughly 12.6 million index crimes; of these,
about 1.7 million were violent crimes (murder, rape, assault).

A few factoids:

1) The text (chapter 2) indicates that only 37 percent of all
crimes are reported (about 70 pct of auto thefts, but only
25 pct of simple larcenies);


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              MEASURING CRIME & OFFICIAL STATISTICS


"Official Statistics" are defined as the data kept by law
enforcement agencies on the occurance and solving of crimes.
They are used to assess how common crime is, how efficient police
are, and how resources might be used.  They are also used heavily
by researchers and media to study, dramatize, or otherwise
discuss crime.  They have, however, been criticized.  "Official
Statistics," especially the "Uniform Crime Reports" (UCR) kept by
the FBI, will guide today's lecture.

I.  Background discussion
    A. Definitions
    B. Historical information
       1. Early use
       2. Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA)

II. Problems with UCR Reliability

    method of organizational reporting varies

    occurence of some crimes may be given more weight than others

    Reporting rate for some crimes may vary

    Police reporting is discretionary

    Different categories may be used in different departments

    Social values and public opinion may not favor full
    enforcement

    "Follow-up" and "clearance" (ie, what happens after crime
    reported) may shape how crimes are tallied

    Some crimes not detected

    Law enforcement agencies may wish to conceal some criminal
    statistics

    Politics (e.g., funding) may influence the reporting

III. Other problems with UCR
     A. "Meaning" uncertain
     B. People don't report crimes (12 reasons)
     C. Crime rates may be political

IV. Problems with "official Statistics" in Research

V. Alternatives

   A. Self-reports (Surveys)
   B. Observation
   C. Alternative Sources
      1) Nat'l Crime Survey (NCS)

VI. Why don't people report crime?

1. Embarrassment
2. "It won't matter/why bother"
3. They don't realize a crime has been committed
4. They may also be "guilty" of something
5. Fear (retaliation, stigma); fear of police
6. Family/friends are involved