1

The Crime Picture

CH

AP

TE

R

2

2

The Value of Data

•policy

• programs

laws

funding

3

Sources of Data

1. Uniform Crime Reports (UCR/NIBRS)

2. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

Professional organizations Offender self-reports Other regular publications

4

NIBRS: The New UCR

National Incident Based Reporting System

FBI: 1988

Law enforcement:

-crime/arrest

NIBRS

-location

-weapon -type/value of property

-characteristics vic/perp

-vic/perp relationship

-disposition

6

UCR/NIBRSDO NOT WRITE DOWN

Also collects data on: bad checks vagrancy disorderly conduct driving under the influence drunkenness non-violent family offenses

liquor law violations “peeping Tom” activities runaways trespassing general category of all “other” criminal law violations

7

UCR/NIBRS: Crime Rates

Crime Rate = # of crimes

100,000 population

8

UCR/NIBRS: Clearance Rates

Clearance Rate = number of crimes solved number of crimes committed

9

Murder

unlawful killing of a human being by another

Includes: Willful/unlawful homicides Non-negligent manslaughter

10

Murder: Multiple Killings

Spree: two/more -more than one occasion

Mass: three/more -single event

Serial: three/more -time/cooling off

11

Forcible Rape

carnal knowledge forcibly/against will

Includes: Assault/attempt

12

Rape: underreported: 60%

-Police unsympathetic

-Embarrassment/publicity

-Reprisals

-Additional “victimization”

13

Robbery

taking/attempted taking

property of another

Force fear of force

14

Aggravated Assault

serious injury upon another

Includes: Attempted-deadly weapon

15

Burglary

unlawful entry –structure

to commit a felony/theft

16

Larceny–theft

unlawful taking/carrying/leading/riding away from possession of another

17

Motor Vehicle Theft

Theft/attempted of motor vehicle

-self-propelled-land/not rails

18

Motor Vehicle Theft

Includes automobiles motorcycles motor scooters trucks buses snowmobiles

Excludes trains airplanes bulldozers most farm equipment ships boats spacecraft

19

Arson

burning/attempted burning of property with/without intent to defraud

Structures & vehicles

20

Part II Offenses

-social order offenses: Simple assault DUI Prostitution Vandalism Receiving stolen property Fraud Embezzlement

21

NCVS

National Crime Victimization Survey

self-reports

“dark figure” of crime

> 50,000 households surveyed twice per year

22

Dark Figure of Crime

dark figure

crimes known

to the police all crime

23

NCVS Statistics Reveal

1/2 of violent crime reported

1/3 of all property crime reported

24

Women and Crime

Women: likely to be injured during crime

Lifestyle modifications due to threat

CRIMINAL JUSTICE TODAY, 10E © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc by Dr. Frank Schmalleger Pearson Prentice Hall

Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 25

Findings of the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS)DO NOT WRITE DOWN

52% have been physically assaulted as child/adult

1.9 million women physically assaulted in U.S. each year

25% (8% of men) experienced partner violence 18% experienced a completed/attempted rape (> half under 18 when first raped)

More likely to be injured during assault Violence against women primarily partner violence

8% of women have been stalked.

26

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

• Rape Shield Law to civil/criminal cases

Federal funding

27

Anti-Stalking Laws

All states-protection to women (80%)

Cyberstalking:

-internet/email/electronic communication to stalk

28

Elderly Crime Victims

•Lowest rate of victimization

-high fear rate

-targets of scams

29

Hate Crimes

Hate crimes:

-hatred/bias/prejudice

-actual/perceived

- race/color/religion/national origin/ethnicity gender/sexual orientation

30

Organized Crime

-highly organized/disciplined association

-illegal goods/services

-RICO Act

31

Drug Crime

> x 2 since 1975

Federal prosecutions:-11,854 in 1984-40,000 in 2001

•Drugs=other crimes

32

Cybercrime

Cybercrime:

-computer-federal/state computer statute

-victims?

33

causes?

Basically good?

Why some violent/aggressive?

Self-interest?

Causes of Crime

34

Criminology: causes Crime—violation of criminal law w/o legal justification

Deviance—-violation of social norms-appropriate behavior -particular set of circumstances

Criminology

35

Criminological Theory

Theory-interrelated propositions

-describe/explain/predict

36

Basic Assumptions

-genetic

-hereditary

-primitive developmental/evolutionary process

Characteristics of Biological Theories

37

Social Policy and Biological Theories

“Extreme.”

Eugenics (1920s)

38

Psychobiological Theories

39

Basic Assumptions

-DNA

-nutrition

-hormones

-physical trauma

-body chemistry

Characteristics of Psychobiological Theories

40

-Supermales:(XYY)

-Later studies disputed findings

Chromosome Theory

41

Biocriminology:-eating habits

-vitamin deficiencies

-genetics

Biochemical Factors and Imbalances

42

Social Policy and Biological Theories

Policies: modify body chemistry-change behavior

Example: Medication

43

Psychological Theories

44

Basic Assumptions

-individual-unit of analysis

-personality-motivational element

-abnormal mental processes

Characteristics of Psychological Theories

45

-behavior-increased/decreased by reward/punishment/other stimuli

-Pavlov’s dogs

Behavioral Conditioning

46

Psychopathology: mental illness

Psychopath:

-personality disorder/antisocial

-likely to become criminal

Psychopathology and Crime

47

Psychosis:

-mental disorder

-out of touch with reality

-can lead to crime

The Psychotic Offender

48

Social Policy and Psychological Theories

-individualistic/treatment and therapy plans

-reduce dangerousness

49

Sociological Theories

50

Basic Assumptions

-Group dynamics-causal basis

-Social disorganization-criminal behavior

Characteristics of Sociological Theories

51

-change cultural conditions that lead people into crime

Social Policy and Sociological Theories

52

Social Process Theories

53

Basic Assumptions

-Low self-esteem/no meaningful social roles

-crime-socialization

-crime-observation

Characteristics of Social Process Theories

-Improve self esteem

-mentor programs

54

Social Policy and Social Process Theories

55

Conflict Theories

56

-crime-economic/social inequities

-conflict among groups-unavoidable

-laws-interests of powerful

Characteristics of Conflict Theory

57

Focus on injustices and inequality-Revolution!

-job opportunities

-prison overcrowding

Social Policy and Conflict Theories