2 The Crime Picture

The Collection of Crime Data Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program A statistical reporting program run by the FBI and publishes Crime in the United States annually National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) An annual survey of selected American households

The UCR/NIBRS Program Development of the UCR Program Approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies provide crime information to the program. Original UCR Program included a Crime Index which permitted comparisons over time. continued on next slide

The UCR/NIBRS Program Development of the UCR Program Murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson (Arson was added to the index in 1979)

FIGURE 2-1 The Criminal Justice Funnel Source: Derived from Brian A FIGURE 2-1 The Criminal Justice Funnel Source: Derived from Brian A. Reaves, Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2009 (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013), and updated with estimates by the author.

The National Incident-Based Reporting System Development initiated in 1988 A significant redesign of the original UCR Program Incident-driven, not summary-based Gathers many details about each criminal incident continued on next slide

The National Incident-Based Reporting System Includes 22 general offenses FBI began accepting crime data in NIBRS format in January 1989. The NIBRS format has not been fully adopted. Attempting to enhance the quantity, quality, and timeliness of crime-data collection by law enforcement agencies

Differences between Traditional UCR and Enhanced UCR/NIBRS Reporting Consists of monthly aggregate crime counts Consists of individual incident records for the 8 major crimes and 38 other offenses, with details on offense, victim, offender, and property involved continued on next slide

Differences between Traditional UCR and Enhanced UCR/NIBRS Reporting Records one offense per incident, as determined by the hierarchy rule, which suppresses counts of lesser offenses in multiple-offense incidents Records each offense occurring in anincident

Historical Trends The first shift occurred in the early 1940s. There was a decrease in crime due to the large number of young men who entered military service during World War II. continued on next slide

Historical Trends The second shift was between 1960 and the early 1990s. Postwar baby boomers reaching crime-prone age Growing professionalization of some police departments resulted in greater and more accurate data collection continued on next slide

Historical Trends The second shift was between 1960 and the early 1990s. Increase in drug-related criminal activity Crime rates peaked during the early 1990s continued on next slide

Historical Trends The third shift was between 1991 and 2009. Decrease in crime Sentencing reform Growth in the use of incarceration "War on drugs" Advances in forensic science technology continued on next slide

Historical Trends A fourth shift in crime trends seems to be starting now. PERF reports "The reentry explosion" "The lengthening shadow of illegal immigration" "The sprawling parentless neighborhood of the Internet"

UCR/NIBRS in Transition Violent crimes (Also called personal crimes) include murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, burglary, arson, and larceny-theft. Clearance rate Proportion of reported crimes that have been "solved"

Part I Offenses Murder The unlawful killing of a human being Smallest numerical category in Part I offenses Firearms are the weapons most often used. The offender is usually at least an acquaintance. continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Forcible Rape Sexual battery The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will Sexual battery The intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person, without consent continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Date Rape Most rapes are committed by acquaintances. Forced sexual intercourse that occurs within the context of a dating relationship Most rapes are committed by acquaintances. continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Robbery The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another by force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear Individuals are the most common target of robbers. continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Robbery The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property that is in the immediate possession of another by force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear UCR/NIBRS Program scores a robbery as one robbery, even if multiple victims in one event. continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Assault Inflicting injury upon the person of another continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Aggravated Assault Inflicting serious injury upon the person of another Most frequent in the summer months Most aggravated assaults are committed with blunt objects or objects near at hand. continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Burglary The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft Burglars usually do not know their victims. continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Larceny-Theft The unlawful taking or attempted taking of property from the possession of another The most common of the eight major offenses continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Motor Vehicle Theft Self-propelled vehicles that run on the ground and not on rails Most insurance companies require police reports before they will reimburse car owners for their losses continued on next slide

Part I Offenses Arson Any willful or malicious burning, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling, public building, motor vehicle, etc.

Part II Offenses Less serious than Part I offenses Include a number of social-order (a.k.a. "victimless") crimes

The National Crime Victimization Survey Designed to estimate the occurrence of all crimes, whether reported or not First conducted in 1972 Dark figure of crime Crimes that are not reported to the police

Comparisons of the UCR and the NCVS Problems with the UCR/NIBRS Not all people report when they are victimized. Certain kinds of crimes are reported rarely, if at all. Victims' reports may not be entirely accurate. Inaccuracies may enter the data as it is filtered through a number of levels. continued on next slide

Comparisons of the UCR and the NCVS Issues with the NCVS Respondents relate events which may or may not have been crimes. Some victims are afraid to report crimes, even to non-police interviewers. Details about the crimes come directly from the victim with no attempt to validate the information against police records or any other source.

Special Categories of Crime Crime Typology A classification of crimes along a particular dimension Crime against women Men are more often the victims of violent crime. However, when women are victims of violent crime, they are more likely than men to be injured. continued on next slide

Special Categories of Crime Stalking Repeated harassing and threatening behavior which may be planned or carried out in secret

Violence against Women Act (VAWA) Educate police, prosecutors, and judges about the special needs of female victims Encourage pro-arrest policies in cases of domestic abuse continued on next slide

Violence against Women Act (VAWA) Provide specialized services for female victims Fund battered women's shelters

Crime Against the Elderly In general, elderly crime victims are more likely than younger victims to: Be victims of property crime. Report their victimization to the police. Be physically injured.

Hate Crime Hate Crime A criminal offense committed against a person that is motivated by the offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin continued on next slide

Hate Crime Most hate crimes consist of intimidation. Hate crimes may also involve vandalism, simple assault, and/or aggravated assault.

Corporate and White-Collar Crime Identification doctrine Corporations treated as separate legal entities Can be convicted of violations of criminal law continued on next slide

Corporate and White-Collar Crime Corporate crime A violation of criminal statute by a corporate entity or by its executives, employees, or agents for the benefit of the corporation continued on next slide

Corporate and White-Collar Crime Violations of criminal law committed by persons of respectability in the course of their occupation

Organized Crime Organized Crime Transnational Organized Crime The unlawful activities of the members of a highly organized, disciplined association engaged in supplying illegal goods or services Transnational Organized Crime Unlawful activity undertaken and supported by organized criminal groups operating across national boundaries

Gun Crime Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act 1994 Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban 1996 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Firearms Act 2005

Drug Crime White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) estimates annual illicit drug sales in the United States of around $65 billion. Drug law violations continue to increase.

High-Technology and Computer Crime Any crime perpetuated through the use of computer technology Information piracy and forgery Dissemination of offensive materials

Terrorism A violent act or an act dangerous to human life in violation of the criminal laws of the U. S. or of any state, committed to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives