Chapter 3: Sources of Chapter 3: Sources of Information about Crime Victims:Information about Crime Victims:

The UCR The UCR and and the NCVSthe NCVS

Yingyos LeechaiananCRIJ 4380W

Week 3

22

IntroductionIntroduction

The Big PictureThe Big Picture When and where do crimes occur? How often are weapons used? Are victims usually strangers? Do victims resist? Should they? How often are victims injured? What do victims lose?

33

IntroductionIntroduction

How do we “put together” the Big Picture?How do we “put together” the Big Picture?

– Official statistics gathered by governmentOfficial statistics gathered by government

– Criminologists and victimologists gather their Criminologists and victimologists gather their own dataown data

– Special interest groups gather crime dataSpecial interest groups gather crime data

44

Use and Abuse of StatisticsUse and Abuse of Statistics

Statistics—meaningful numbers that reveal Statistics—meaningful numbers that reveal important informationimportant information

Official statistics—compiled and published Official statistics—compiled and published by governmentby government– Statistics—Statistics—

Provide realistic assessments of a threat posed to Provide realistic assessments of a threat posed to individuals by criminal activityindividuals by criminal activity

Reveal patterns of criminal activityReveal patterns of criminal activity Reflect trends in criminal activityReflect trends in criminal activity

55

Use and Abuse of StatisticsUse and Abuse of Statistics

Statistics –continued–Statistics –continued–– Reveal costs and losses by criminal activityReveal costs and losses by criminal activity– Project number of possible victims of a Project number of possible victims of a

particular crimeparticular crime– Evaluate effectiveness of recovery efforts and Evaluate effectiveness of recovery efforts and

prevention strategiesprevention strategies– Identify statistical portraits (profiles) of a typical Identify statistical portraits (profiles) of a typical

victimvictim

66

Use and Abuse of StatisticsUse and Abuse of Statistics

Interpretation of StatisticsInterpretation of Statistics– Can be used to influence decision makersCan be used to influence decision makers– Can be used to reduce fearsCan be used to reduce fears– Can be used to support police administrationCan be used to support police administration– Can be used to show something is not workingCan be used to show something is not working

77

CautionCaution

However, be aware that statistics can be However, be aware that statistics can be used to present one viewpoint, or be used to present one viewpoint, or be presented with a “spin.”presented with a “spin.”

88

FBI gathers data from local police FBI gathers data from local police departments and publishes an annual report departments and publishes an annual report of crime statistics called the Uniform Crime of crime statistics called the Uniform Crime Report (UCR)Report (UCR)

Part One Crimes Reported—8 CrimesPart One Crimes Reported—8 Crimes– Violent Crime Data—(4) Murder, Forcible Rape, Violent Crime Data—(4) Murder, Forcible Rape,

Robbery and Aggravated AssaultRobbery and Aggravated Assault– Property Crime Data—(4) Burglary, Property Crime Data—(4) Burglary,

Larceny/Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft and ArsonLarceny/Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft and Arson

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

99

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

One method of illustrating the UCR data is One method of illustrating the UCR data is the “Crime Clock,” which shows how many the “Crime Clock,” which shows how many seconds or minutes apart a particular crime seconds or minutes apart a particular crime or criminal event occurs—see Figure 3.1, or criminal event occurs—see Figure 3.1, Page 55Page 55

1010

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

UCR reflects data for cities, counties and statesUCR reflects data for cities, counties and states

Reports include:Reports include:

Number of complaints filed with policeNumber of complaints filed with police

Proportion of cases solvedProportion of cases solved

Characteristics of offenders arrestedCharacteristics of offenders arrested

1111

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

Shortcomings of UCR ReportShortcomings of UCR Report– Underreporting a major problemUnderreporting a major problem– Focus is offenders, not victims (homicide Focus is offenders, not victims (homicide

exception)exception)– Mixes attempted crimes and completed crimesMixes attempted crimes and completed crimes– Robbery includes all targets, does not single out Robbery includes all targets, does not single out

households, banks, stores, etc.households, banks, stores, etc.– Uses ‘hierarchy rule,’ which reports only the Uses ‘hierarchy rule,’ which reports only the

most serious crime in a sequence of several most serious crime in a sequence of several criminal incidentscriminal incidents

1212

National Incident-Based Reporting National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)System (NIBRS)

Tracks 46 Group A Offenses—Greater Tracks 46 Group A Offenses—Greater Breakdown in data:Breakdown in data:– i.e. simple assault, vandalism, blackmail, fraud, i.e. simple assault, vandalism, blackmail, fraud,

statutory rape, kidnappingstatutory rape, kidnapping– Gathers data relating to commission of crime, Gathers data relating to commission of crime,

victim information, value of theft, race/ethnicityvictim information, value of theft, race/ethnicity– Originally scheduled for year 2000 Originally scheduled for year 2000

implementationimplementation

1313

The NCVSThe NCVS

Another set of data is collected by the Bureau Another set of data is collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and is based on surveys of Justice Statistics and is based on surveys with victims. It is called the National Crime with victims. It is called the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and it often Victimization Survey (NCVS) and it often paints a different picture than the UCRpaints a different picture than the UCR

1414

National Crime Victimization SurveyNational Crime Victimization Survey(NCVS)(NCVS)

Crime rates determined by public survey Crime rates determined by public survey randomly selected by U. S. Census Bureau randomly selected by U. S. Census Bureau

First survey, 1966—President’s Commission First survey, 1966—President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justiceof Justice

The NCVS reports crimes in the form of The NCVS reports crimes in the form of rates per 1000rates per 1000

1515

National Crime Victim SurveyNational Crime Victim Survey(NCVS)(NCVS)

Crimes studied:Crimes studied:– Forcible rape & sexual assaultForcible rape & sexual assault– RobberyRobbery– Aggravated assault & simple assaultAggravated assault & simple assault– TheftTheft– Household burglariesHousehold burglaries– Motor vehicle theftsMotor vehicle thefts

Only surveys those 12 years of age or older—Only surveys those 12 years of age or older—Does NOT include crimes against those under 12 Does NOT include crimes against those under 12 years of ageyears of age

1616

Four Reasons NCVS QuestionedFour Reasons NCVS Questioned

Bias of InformationBias of Information

Credibility of InformationCredibility of Information– Wives reporting abuse, girls reporting date rape, boys Wives reporting abuse, girls reporting date rape, boys

reporting robberies on bad drug dealsreporting robberies on bad drug deals

Crimes against children under 12 not probedCrimes against children under 12 not probed

Over reportingOver reporting– Pollsters, not detectives, to sort out conflicting stories or Pollsters, not detectives, to sort out conflicting stories or

factsfacts

1717

Estimated Victimization RatesEstimated Victimization Rates

Table 3.1, Pages 65-66Table 3.1, Pages 65-66 Crime rates reported by NCVS & UCR for Crime rates reported by NCVS & UCR for

2006 presented2006 presented

1818

UCR vs. NCVSUCR vs. NCVS

During 70s and 80s, there appeared to be During 70s and 80s, there appeared to be low correlation between the two official low correlation between the two official sources of data in regards to victimization sources of data in regards to victimization ratesrates

The two reporting systems again gave The two reporting systems again gave conflicting signals at the end of 2001 conflicting signals at the end of 2001 regarding violent crimes and property crimesregarding violent crimes and property crimes

1919

UCR vs. NCVSUCR vs. NCVS

UCR—No data for victims except murderUCR—No data for victims except murder NCVS—No data on crimes of murder, bias/hate NCVS—No data on crimes of murder, bias/hate

crimes, line of duty assaults on policecrimes, line of duty assaults on police– No data on offenses against children under 12No data on offenses against children under 12– No data on business robberies or burglaries No data on business robberies or burglaries – No data on arson or victims of arsonNo data on arson or victims of arson

UCR—computes rates/100,000 populationUCR—computes rates/100,000 population

NCVS—computes rates/1,000 age 12 and older NCVS—computes rates/1,000 age 12 and older or/households (no number)or/households (no number)

2020

Key TermsKey TermsStatisticsStatistics Official StatisticsOfficial Statistics PatternsPatterns

TrendsTrends ProfilesProfiles SpinSpin

Crime ClockCrime Clock Uniform Crime Uniform Crime ReportReport

National Crime National Crime Victimization SurveyVictimization Survey

CorrelationCorrelation Index crimesIndex crimes Hierarchy RuleHierarchy Rule

Self report surveySelf report survey Memory decayMemory decay Forward telescopingForward telescoping

Range (Confidence Range (Confidence Interval)Interval)

Victimization RatesVictimization Rates Raw numbersRaw numbers

Big PictureBig Picture RatesRates