1. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship

2. Learning Objectives In this chapter you will learn role of statistical analysis in criminal justice how crime in measured in the U.S. strengths & weaknesses of crime measures application of statistical analysis in a criminal justice agency

3. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Introduction Studying statistics can be important to your understanding of the discipline professional development career role as a consumer and a citizen

4. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Validity of Crime Stats Validity is synonymous with accuracy Are the ways we measure crime valid? What are the implications for the use of crime statistics in planning?

5. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Ways of Measuring Crime Two major ways of measuring the amount and types of crimes Uniform Crime Report (official data) changing to National Incident-Based Reporting System National Crime Victimization Survey

6. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Uniform Crime Report Crime in the United States collected and reported by the police to Federal Bureau of Investigation since 1930 highlights Part I or Index Offenses The Crime Index Murder, Rape, Robbery, Assault, Burglary, Larceny-Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft, Arson

7. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Reported Crimes, 1996

8. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Limitations of the UCR Only reflects the volume of crime reported to the police Affected by the recording practices of the police Emphasizes street crime. No statistics on white-collar crime Figures reflect the style of of police work

9. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Strengths of the UCR The major source of crime statistics in the US Police and citizens agree on what constitute a serious crime “Unfounding”: how the UCR verifies the data

10. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship National Crime Victimization Survey Conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics since 1972, the NCVS attempts to uncover unreported crime; surveys 60,000 households. takes information directly from victims collects background information on victims

11. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship UCR & NCVS Crime

12. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship NCVS Rates, 1996

13. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Limitations of the NCVS Accuracy: Forgetting and “telescoping” are potential problems Lying: Concealing victimizations due to embarrassment or overreporting to please the interviewer Asks questions about rape in an indirect manner

14. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Limitations of the NCVS Problems in administration and coding Survey represents nation as a whole, does not contain specific information on one area Tends to overrepresent non-serious crime

15. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Why Crime Not Reported Reasons for not reporting crime Violent crimes personal or private matter and the offender was not successful Theft property recovered, offender not successful, reported to some other official, lack of proof. household crimes: same as theft, plus police would not want to be bothered.

16. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Why Report Crime? Violent Crimes to prevent future crimes by the offender to stop or prevent the crime because it is serious

17. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Why Report Crime? Theft to recover stolen property because it was a crime to collect insurance to stop or prevent the incident

18. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Advantages of CFS Data Gatekeeping procedures of the police are bypassed. Computers record every call Interviewer, sampling and memory bias are not a problem Police arrest statistics are often biased by place and status of the offender

19. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Weaknesses of CFS Data A complaint must be made before it can be recorded by the system Overreporting can occur Offense location not always included

20. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Routine Activities Theory Elements of Routine Activities Theory: A motivated offender; A suitable target; The absence of a capable guardian to prevent crime Crime control prevent convergence of offenders and targets without guardians

21. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship The Compstat Process Accurate and timely information What type of crime is it? Where is crime occurring? When is crime happening? Why is crime happening?

22. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Rapid deployment of resources Effective tactics Relentless follow-up and assessment The Compstat Process

23. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Results The Compstat Process leads to: enforcement strategies to target specific crimes or conditions Refocusing the strategy of community policing giving Precinct Commanders authority and responsibility

24. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Crime Reported to NYPD

25. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Misuse of Data Steps to prevent misuse of crime statistics obtain data over as many data points and years as is feasible increase the number of indicators use current data

26. © 2001 Vito & Blankenship Summary Important to understand limitations of research Statistics can provide basis for rational decision making if valid relaible