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