AJ 50 – Introduction to Administration of Justice

1. AJ 50 – Introduction to Administration of Justice Chapter 2 - The Crime Picture

2. The Collection of Crime Data • Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) • FBI annual publication, since 1930 • Some 16,000 participating LE agencies provide crime information to FBI based on reported crimes • Used to develop national Crime Index • National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) • Bureau of Justice Statistics annual survey • Measures reported and unreported crime

3. NIBRS National Incident-Based Reporting System • Incident-based system gathers data on every single crime occurrence • From city, county, state, federal agencies • Replaces Part I & II Offenses with information on 22 general offenses

4. Crime Index • Violent and property crimes reported • Used for geographical and historical comparisons • Used to calculate Crime Rate • Number of crimes per unit of population • Historical trends in crime rate • 1940’s = decrease • 1960’s–1990’s = increase • 1990’s–2007 = decrease • Current trends? • Crime Index data in transition to new NIBRS

5. Part I Offenses • Violent crimes • Murder • Rape • Robbery • Aggravated Assault • Property crimes • Burglary • Larceny/Theft • Motor Vehicle Theft • Arson • FBI crime clock (p. 38) • Frequency of crime occurrence

6. Murder • Definition? • Unlawful killing of another human being • 187 PC • Degrees? • 1st, 2nd • Voluntary/involuntary/vehicular manslaughter • Weapon most commonly used? • Firearm • By whom? • Most suspects/victims acquainted • Comparison to other Part I Offenses? • Least likely to occur/most likely to be cleared • Why?

7. Rape • Definition? • Unlawful/forceful sexual intercourse without consent • 261 PC • Against whom? • Female, male, same-gender • “Statutory” Rape? • Victim is minor • 261.5 PC = Unlawful Sexual Intercourse • Sexual Battery? • Unlawful physical contact of some sexual nature without consent • Date Rape? • Acquaintance Rape during “dating” relationship/situation

8. Robbery • Definition? • Unlawful taking of another’s property by force or violence and placing the victim in fear • 211 PC • How? • Armed with weapon • Unarmed = “strong-arm” robbery • “Highway” Robbery? • Robbery that occurs outdoors in public

9. Aggravated Assault • Definition? • Unlawful attack or attempt to inflict injury on another person • Types? • Simple = misdemeanor (240 PC) • Aggravated = felony (243 PC, 245 PC) • Weapon, serious injury, etc. • Same as Battery? • No! Battery is a completed assault (242 PC)

10. Burglary • Definition? • Unlawful entry with intent to commit theft or any felony • 459 PC • Types? • Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Auto • Breaking and Entering? • Not necessarily, structure may be unlocked • Annual loss? • Over $4 billion in losses (2007) • Average loss per offense ~ $1,900

11. Larceny/Theft • Definition? • Unlawful taking of property of another • 484 PC • Grand Theft vs. Petty Theft? • 487 PC (F) or 488 PC (M) • Depends on value of stolen property ($400) • Common but often under-reported… why? • Identity Theft? • Increasing problem, huge losses

12. Motor-Vehicle Theft • Definition? • Theft/attempted theft of motor vehicle • 10851 VC • Motor Vehicle? • Self-propelled road vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, etc.) • Tractors, airplanes, trains, etc. fall under Theft category • Connection to violent crimes? • Losses? • Over 1 million vehicles stolen in 2007 • $7.4 billion

13. Arson • Definition? • Burning of property with or without intent to defraud • 451 PC • Why? • Malicious mischief, insurance fraud, destroy evidence or hide other crimes • Most common targets? • #1 structures, #2 vehicles • Annual Loss? • ~ $1 billion • Average loss per offense ~ $17,000

14. Part II Offenses • Less-serious violations as compared to Part I • Statistics based on number of arrests as opposed to number reported • Many would be unreported • Numbers reflect number of arrests, not necessarily number of arrestees • Refer to Table, page 49

15. NCVS National Crime Victimization Survey • Information based on victims’ self-reporting rather than police reports • Intended to show the “Dark Figure of Crime” • Crimes that occurred but unreported • Rape, robbery, burglary, assault, larceny

16. Crime Typology • Crimes classified along particular dimensions • Property crimes • Violent crimes • Specific victim type • Many have overlapping characteristics • Crime Classification = seriousness of offense • Infraction • Misdemeanor • Felony

17. Crimes Against Women • Women less likely to be victims of all personal crimes except for rape • Higher rate of injury to female victims • Violence against women primarily from partner • Other associated crimes • Domestic Violence • Rape/Date Rape • Stalking/Cyberstalking • Refer to statistics on p. 52-53

18. Crimes Against the Elderly • In general, victimization declines with age • Elderly more likely to be… • Victims of property crimes • Victimized by strangers • Victimized in or near home during daytime • Injured (less likely to protect themselves)

19. Hate Crimes • Crimes with a motive of… • Hatred, bias, or prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation of an individual or group of individuals • 422.55 PC & 422.6 PC • Connection to “regular” PC sections? • Examples?

20. White-Collar Crime • Usually nonviolent crime for financial gain committed by… • Person of high professional/business status • Person of high professional/technical knowledge or skill • Corporate Crime • Criminal actions committed by a corporate entity or its executives or agents

21. Organized Crime • Criminal activity by a highly-organized group or association, often supplying illegal goods or services • Drug trafficking • Gambling • Prostitution • Loan-Sharking/Racketeering • Transnational Organized Crime • Occurs across national borders • International drug/weapons trade

22. Gun Crime • Large number of crimes committed with firearms, especially handguns • Gun-control legislation aimed at reducing firearms-related crime • Second Amendment protections?

23. Drug Crime • Continuing to increase • Connection to other crimes? • Huge $$$ • $65 billion in illicit drug sales annually in US • $142 billion in US, Mexico, Canada • Costs of drug enforcement? • Investigation, arrest, prosecution, incarceration

24. High-Technology Crime • Computer Crime (Cyber-crime) • Criminal activity through the use of computer technology • Malware – malicious computer programs such as viruses, worms, etc. • Invasion of operating systems to alter, damage, destroy stored information • Computer Piracy • Unauthorized duplication/transfer of software, music, movies, etc. • Who does this harm?

25. Terrorism • Committing a violent or dangerous act against human life in order to… • Coerce or intimidate government or civilians • In furtherance of political/social objectives • Domestic Terrorism • Terrorist individual or group based within US without foreign direction • Acts directed at US government or populace • International Terrorism • Terrorist individuals/groups with links to foreign power • Acts directed across national boundaries to further group’s political/social goals