Criminology and Measuring Criminology and Measuring CrimeCrime
Chapter 2 & 3 In Your TextbookChapter 2 & 3 In Your Textbook
John MasseyJohn MasseyCriminal JusticeCriminal Justice
CriminologyCriminology CriminologyCriminology – scientific study of crime and causes – scientific study of crime and causes
of criminal behaviorof criminal behavior
Why is it important to measure crime/gather Why is it important to measure crime/gather statistics?statistics?
3 reasons:3 reasons: 1) know when crime is decreasing/increasing1) know when crime is decreasing/increasing 2) know what types of crimes are becoming problems 2) know what types of crimes are becoming problems
in certain areasin certain areas 3) see who are prone to be victims/perpetuators3) see who are prone to be victims/perpetuators
Variety of Ways to Measure CrimeVariety of Ways to Measure Crime (UCR, NIBRS, NCVS, Self-Reported Surveys)(UCR, NIBRS, NCVS, Self-Reported Surveys)
UCR – Uniform Crime Report – 1930UCR – Uniform Crime Report – 1930 Gather crimes that are reported to policeGather crimes that are reported to police 3 forms of measurement: number of people arrested, 3 forms of measurement: number of people arrested,
number of crimes reported by victims, witnesses or police, number of crimes reported by victims, witnesses or police, and number of officersand number of officers
More on the UCRMore on the UCR Rate per 100,000 peopleRate per 100,000 people Does not include crimes not reportedDoes not include crimes not reported 2001 – just under 12 million index crimes2001 – just under 12 million index crimes Results/stats published every yearResults/stats published every year
Part I – Index Crimes – more seriousPart I – Index Crimes – more serious Murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, etc.Murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, etc. Covered by mediaCovered by media
Part II – misdemeanors and other feloniesPart II – misdemeanors and other felonies Arrest dataArrest data Five times more likely than index crimesFive times more likely than index crimes
Problems with the UCRProblems with the UCR Citizens have to report it, chain of commandCitizens have to report it, chain of command
NIBRS & Victim SurveysNIBRS & Victim Surveys National Incident Based Reporting SystemNational Incident Based Reporting System Emerged because of criticisms of the UCREmerged because of criticisms of the UCR 22 offense categories, 46 specific crimes22 offense categories, 46 specific crimes Formed in 1989Formed in 1989 Not used frequentlyNot used frequently Results are similar to those found with the Results are similar to those found with the
UCRUCR
Victim SurveysVictim Surveys Researchers ask victims of crime directlyResearchers ask victims of crime directly Mail/phone surveysMail/phone surveys 19661966 Results indicate a higher victimization rateResults indicate a higher victimization rate Shows that a lot of crime may go unreportedShows that a lot of crime may go unreported
NCVS & Self-Reported SurveysNCVS & Self-Reported Surveys National Crime Victimization SurveyNational Crime Victimization Survey 1972 – people are interviewed twice a year1972 – people are interviewed twice a year Measures both reported/underreported crimeMeasures both reported/underreported crime Unaffected by police biasUnaffected by police bias Does not rely on victims directly reporting to Does not rely on victims directly reporting to
the policethe police Some people may not answer truthfullySome people may not answer truthfully
Self-Reported SurveysSelf-Reported Surveys Question offenders rather than victimsQuestion offenders rather than victims Ask about criminal activityAsk about criminal activity Some may not admit, some may overstate Some may not admit, some may overstate
their involvementtheir involvement
Crime Trends and PatternsCrime Trends and Patterns Crime peaked in the 80’s, has since decreased.Crime peaked in the 80’s, has since decreased. Why is crime data important? (2 reasons)Why is crime data important? (2 reasons)
Can give a general idea of crime patternsCan give a general idea of crime patterns Use the stats to determine geographic patterns of crimeUse the stats to determine geographic patterns of crime
What we knowWhat we know Urban areas have higher rates of index crimesUrban areas have higher rates of index crimes States in the south and west have higher rates of index States in the south and west have higher rates of index
crimescrimes More crime in warmer summer monthsMore crime in warmer summer months Crime is concentrated in hotspotsCrime is concentrated in hotspots
Class and CrimeClass and Crime Highest rates = poorest, lowest income, urban Highest rates = poorest, lowest income, urban
neighborhoodsneighborhoods Unemployment – predictor of violent crimeUnemployment – predictor of violent crime Poverty – predictor of violent crimePoverty – predictor of violent crime
POVERTY DOES NOT CAUSE CRIME – can be a contributing POVERTY DOES NOT CAUSE CRIME – can be a contributing factorfactor
Crime Trends and PatternsCrime Trends and Patterns Race and CrimeRace and Crime
Strong correlationStrong correlation African Americans – 13% of population, 38% of African Americans – 13% of population, 38% of
those arrested for violent crimes, 31% of those those arrested for violent crimes, 31% of those arrested for property crimesarrested for property crimes
Greater victimization ratesGreater victimization rates
Age and CrimeAge and Crime Strongest statistical determinant of criminal Strongest statistical determinant of criminal
behaviorbehavior 41% of arrests for violent crime involve Americans 41% of arrests for violent crime involve Americans
24 and under24 and under Age 50 + = only 5.6% of violent crime arrestsAge 50 + = only 5.6% of violent crime arrests
Guns and CrimeGuns and Crime Juvenile criminal behaviorJuvenile criminal behavior Rise in gun ownership among gangs and its Rise in gun ownership among gangs and its
membersmembers 2001 – 63% of homicides involved firearm2001 – 63% of homicides involved firearm
Crime Trends and PatternsCrime Trends and Patterns Drugs and Alcohol and CrimeDrugs and Alcohol and Crime
As many as 8 out of every 10 prisoners under As many as 8 out of every 10 prisoners under the influence of one when committing their the influence of one when committing their crimes or had history of abusecrimes or had history of abuse
Gender and CrimeGender and Crime MalesMales Murder 10 times more than femalesMurder 10 times more than females Gender rolesGender roles
Career CriminalsCareer Criminals Chronic offendersChronic offenders Marvin Wolfgang, 9945 males born in Marvin Wolfgang, 9945 males born in
Philadelphia in 1945Philadelphia in 1945 Studied til 1963Studied til 1963 6 percent had committed five or more 6 percent had committed five or more
offensesoffenses ““The Chronic 6 percent”The Chronic 6 percent”
Causes of CrimeCauses of Crime Many proposed theories and explanationsMany proposed theories and explanations Choice TheoriesChoice Theories
Rational choiceRational choice Commit the crime because you choose to do soCommit the crime because you choose to do so Rewards and punishments, gains and lossesRewards and punishments, gains and losses
Trait TheoriesTrait Theories Lombroso, father of criminologyLombroso, father of criminology Criminals are throwbacks, not fully evolved Criminals are throwbacks, not fully evolved
(atavistic)(atavistic) Crime is in the body and the brainCrime is in the body and the brain
Sociological TheoriesSociological Theories Crime is the result of social conditions in a person’s Crime is the result of social conditions in a person’s
environmentenvironment People socially disadvantaged because of povertyPeople socially disadvantaged because of poverty Social disorganization theorySocial disorganization theory
Social Disorganization TheorySocial Disorganization Theory
POVERTY ->POVERTY -> SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION (breakdown SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION (breakdown
of social institutions) ->of social institutions) -> BREAKDOWN OF SOCIAL CONTROL ->BREAKDOWN OF SOCIAL CONTROL ->
EMERGENCE OF HIGH CRIME AREAS ->EMERGENCE OF HIGH CRIME AREAS -> CULTURAL TRANSMISSION ->CULTURAL TRANSMISSION -> CAREER CRIMINALSCAREER CRIMINALS
The cycle repeats…The cycle repeats…
Social Process TheoriesSocial Process Theories Crime is the result of a person’s interaction with their Crime is the result of a person’s interaction with their
environmentenvironment
Learning TheoryLearning Theory SutherlandSutherland Crime is a learned behaviorCrime is a learned behavior Conditioned teacher exposes studentConditioned teacher exposes student
Labeling TheoryLabeling Theory If labeled criminal by authority, you will take the role seriouslyIf labeled criminal by authority, you will take the role seriously Stigma, bragging rightsStigma, bragging rights
Social Conflict TheorySocial Conflict Theory PowerPower Poverty, racism, sexism and destruction of environment are Poverty, racism, sexism and destruction of environment are
“true crimes”“true crimes” Critical of capitalistic societyCritical of capitalistic society
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