The Nature of Crime and Victimization

1. The Nature of Crime and Victimization Is crime really a significant problem? Is crime increasing or decreasing? Is crime becoming more serious? Where and when do crimes occur?

2. Decisions Based On Facts • Criminologists use research and data to • Formulate theories that explain crime origins • Devise policies to control and eliminate crime • This requires • Data Collection • Analysis

3. Decisions Based On Facts • Why is it important to collect crime data? • Why is it important to analyze crime data and patterns?

4. Decisions Based On Facts • Are males more likely to • Commit crime? • Commit violent crime? • Is there a biological explanation for crime? • How about an explanation based on • Psychological Factors (Anger, Frustration, etc) • Sociological Factors (Neighborhoods, Poverty)

5. How Do We Define Crime? • Three Views

6. How Do We Crime? • Three Views • 1. Consensus View

7. How Do We Define Crime? • Three Views • 2. Criminal Law

8. How Do We Define Crime? • Three Views • 3. Social Control

9. How Do We Define Crime? • Opinions about crime differ. • Drug use • Some sexual activities • Opinion Definitions • Interactionist View • Moral Entrepreneur View • Conflict View

10. How Do We Define Crime? • Interactionist View

11. How Do We Define Crime? • Moral Entrepreneur View

12. How Do We Define Crime? • Conflict View

13. How Do We Define Crime? • Regardless of differences

14. Combating Crime • What impacts crime? • Large numbers of police? • Early childhood education and values? • Treatment programs? • Harsh criminal sanctions? Need to start looking somewhere, systematically.

15. Crime Data Measurement • Surveys: Questionnaires • Record Data: Schools, Police, etc. • Cohort Data: Groups (Abuse…Later Crime) • Observation Data: Firsthand • Interview Data: Speak With Offenders

16. Crime Reporting • Three Primary Means • Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) • FBI data derived from police • Victim Surveys • National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) • U.S. Census Bureau and Justice Dept. venture • Self-Report Surveys • Usually mass mailings

17. Crime Reporting • Uniform Crime Reports • Collects data on Index Crimes • Reports based on data from police • Shortcoming • Fewer than ½ of crime incidents reported to police

18. Crime Reporting • National Crime Victimization Survey • Results • Fewer than 1/2 of violent crimes reported • Fewer than 1/3 of personal theft crimes reported • Fewer than ½ of household theft crimes reported

19. Crime Reporting • Self-Report Surveys • Usually done by questionnaires • Most studies focus on juvenile delinquency and youth crime • Findings: • Juvenile have the highest reported crime rate.

20. Crime Reporting • Self-Report Surveys Often Measure

21. Crime Reporting • Self-Report surveys show

22. Crime Reporting • Self-Report surveys show crime incidence is much greater than official reports show.

23. Crime Reporting • Self-Report Surveys show the most common juvenile offenses are:

24. Crime Reporting • Self-Report Surveys: High School Students • At least 1/3 involved in theft • At least 1/5 committed serious violent act

25. Crime Reporting • The UCR, NCVS and Self-Reporting Statistics often differ

26. Crime Trends • 1930s-1960s: Gradual Crime Increase • 1960s-1990: Rapid Crime Increase • 1991-2000: Crime Number & Rate Decline • 2001-Present: Increase In Crime

27. Crime Trends • Violent Crime • 1994-1999: 20% Violent Crime Decrease • Property Crime • 1990-1999: 19% Decrease

28. Crime Trends • Drug and Alcohol Use • 1970s: Sharp Increase • 1980s: Leveled Off • Mid 1990s-1997: Increased • 1998-2000: Declined

29. Why Crime Rates Change • Factors Affecting The Crime Rate • Proportion of young males in the population • Likely increase in next decade • Prolonged periods of economic weakness • Prolonged periods of unemployment • Level of social problems • Teen mothers, racial conflict • Firearm availability • Gang membership • Crack cocaine, other drug usage • Crime control policy

30. Factors Affecting Crime Rate • Proportion Of Young Males In Population • Declining male birth rate • Lower crime results • Teen population will increase in next decade • Expect increase in crime

31. Factors Affecting Crime Rate • Prolonged Economic Weakness and Unemployment • 1980s Recession • Sense of hopelessness

32. Factors Affecting Crime Rate • Level Of Social Problems • Teen Mothers • Positive correlation between homicide rate of the 17-yr-old age group and its members born to unwed • Racial Conflict • In-migration of minorities into predominantly white neighborhoods correlates positively with crime • Racially motivated crimes decrease as neighborhoods become more integrated

33. Factors Affecting Crime Rate • Crack Cocaine Use • As crack cocaine use declines so does level of violence

34. Factors Affecting Crime Rate • Justice Policy • Aggressive enforcement policies targeting “quality of life crimes” (Loitering, Panhandling, Petty Drug Use) reduce crime • Tough laws targeting drug dealing and repeat offenders may affect the crime rate.

35. Break • Read assignments. • Participate in class discussions. • Review notes weekly.