Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology Sixth Edition

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Crime Victims: An Introduction to Crime Victims: An Introduction to VictimologyVictimology

Sixth EditionSixth Edition

By Andrew KarmenBy Andrew Karmen

Chapter Three: Sources of Chapter Three: Sources of Information About Crime VictimsInformation About Crime Victims

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IntroductionIntroduction

The Big PictureThe Big Picture

Where and when do most crimes occur, Where and when do most crimes occur, use of weapons, are victims usually use of weapons, are victims usually strangers, how do victims act, fight back, strangers, how do victims act, fight back, escape, etc., how many are injured or escape, etc., how many are injured or hospitalized, and how much money did hospitalized, and how much money did they lose?they lose?

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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

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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 of criminal activityReflect trends of criminal activity

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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

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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

Interpretations of mathematical findings Interpretations of mathematical findings can be given a spin that is usually can be given a spin that is usually debatabledebatable

“ “Is the glass half full or half empty?”Is the glass half full or half empty?”

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FBI’s Crime ClockFBI’s Crime Clock

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

The data is reported in a ‘Time Clock’ The data is reported in a ‘Time Clock’ format, noting how many seconds or format, noting how many seconds or minutes apart a particular crime or criminal minutes apart a particular crime or criminal event occurs—see Figure 3.1, Page 46event occurs—see Figure 3.1, Page 46

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FBI’s Crime ClockFBI’s Crime Clock

Crime clock portrayals lend to sales pitches Crime clock portrayals lend to sales pitches that play on fears that often lend to the that play on fears that often lend to the exploitation to boost sales of burglar alarms, exploitation to boost sales of burglar alarms, antitheft devices, or crime insuranceantitheft devices, or crime insurance

This portrayal is so ominous it may convince This portrayal is so ominous it may convince citizens “they are next” if they haven’t citizens “they are next” if they haven’t already been victimizedalready been victimized

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Using Rates per YearUsing Rates per Year

The Crime Clock gives impression that The Crime Clock gives impression that being singled out for crime=common being singled out for crime=common occurrenceoccurrence

Different set of government gathered crime Different set of government gathered crime data collected by the Bureau of Justice data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is derived from a different Statistics (BJS) is derived from a different source, the National Crime Victimization source, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)Survey (NCVS)

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Using Rates per YearUsing Rates per Year

NCVS reports criminal activity based upon NCVS reports criminal activity based upon 1,000 population. Example—2 out every 1,000 population. Example—2 out every 1,000 citizens were robbed in 2004, or only 1,000 citizens were robbed in 2004, or only 2% of the population2% of the population

1 out of every 1,000 were injured during a 1 out of every 1,000 were injured during a mugging or hold-up in 2004—or only 1% of mugging or hold-up in 2004—or only 1% of the population—999 were not injuredthe population—999 were not injured

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Using Rates per YearUsing Rates per Year

BOTH SOURCES OF DATA ACCURATE BOTH SOURCES OF DATA ACCURATE AND TRUSTWORTHY—ONLY AND TRUSTWORTHY—ONLY PRESENTED DIFFERENTLYPRESENTED DIFFERENTLY

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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

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

Data Gathered by FBI from local agenciesData Gathered by FBI from local agencies Part One Crimes Reported—8 CrimesPart One Crimes Reported—8 Crimes

– Violent Crime Data—(4) Murder and Victim Info, Violent Crime Data—(4) Murder and Victim Info, Forcible Rape, Robbery and Aggravated Forcible Rape, Robbery and Aggravated AssaultAssault

– Property Crime Data—(4) Burglary, Property Crime Data—(4) Burglary, Larceny/Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft and ArsonLarceny/Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft and Arson

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

Data expressed using “Time Clock”: Number of Data expressed using “Time Clock”: Number of crimes occurring every minutecrimes occurring every minute

UCR reflects data for cities, counties and statesUCR reflects data for cities, counties and statesReports include:Reports include:

Number of complaints filed with policeNumber of complaints filed with policeProportion of cases solvedProportion of cases solvedCharacteristics of offenders arrestedCharacteristics of offenders arrested

No information about complainant or victimNo information about complainant or victim

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

Reports number of hate crimes reported to Reports number of hate crimes reported to policepolice

Analyzes number of law enforcement Analyzes number of law enforcement officers feloniously assaulted and killed in officers feloniously assaulted and killed in the line of duty, weapons used, etc.the line of duty, weapons used, etc.

Collects extensive data about victims of Collects extensive data about victims of homicides including race, age, gender, homicides including race, age, gender, weapon used, etc.weapon used, etc.

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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.– Use ‘hierarchy rule,’ which reports only the most Use ‘hierarchy rule,’ which reports only the most

serious crime in a sequence of several criminal serious crime in a sequence of several criminal incidentsincidents

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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

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National Crime Victim SurveyNational Crime Victim 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—Presidents Commission First survey, 1966—Presidents Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justiceof Justice

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

Focuses on four part one crimesFocuses on four part one crimes Crimes of ViolenceCrimes of Violence

– Forcible RapeForcible Rape– RobberyRobbery– Aggravated AssaultAggravated Assault– Simple AssaultSimple Assault

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

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

Crimes Against PropertyCrimes Against Property– LarcenyLarceny– Burglary—No data gathered on businesses Burglary—No data gathered on businesses

burglarizedburglarized– Motor Vehicle TheftMotor Vehicle TheftNo data gathered on murders or crimes against No data gathered on murders or crimes against

children under age 12children under age 12Crime data reported by U.S. Region and Crime data reported by U.S. Region and

Suburban vs. RuralSuburban vs. Rural

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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

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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 arsonUCR—computes rates/100.000 populationUCR—computes rates/100.000 populationNCVS—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)

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Estimated Victimization RatesEstimated Victimization Rates

Table 3.1, Pages 55-56Table 3.1, Pages 55-56

Estimated Victimization Rates from both the Estimated Victimization Rates from both the UCR and the NCVS, 2004UCR and the NCVS, 2004

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Key TermsKey TermsStatisticsStatistics Official StatisticsOfficial Statistics PatternsPatterns

TrendsTrends ProfilesProfiles SpinSpin

Crime ClockCrime Clock Uniform Crime Uniform Crime ReportReport

National Crime National Crime Victimization Victimization

SurveySurvey

CorrelationCorrelation Index crimesIndex crimes Hierarchy RuleHierarchy Rule

Self report Self report surveysurvey

Memory decayMemory decay Forward Forward telescopingtelescoping

Range (Confidence Range (Confidence Interval)Interval)

Victimization Victimization RatesRates

Raw numbersRaw numbersRatesRates