crime statistics Flashcards
what are crime stats?
collection of numerical data based on various methods of measuring the amount of crime in society
what is the iceberg of crime?
- hidden/dark figure of crime that doesnt appear in statistics
- only figures shown is police recorded crime
reasons for the iceberg of crime?
- choose not to report
- cannot report
- unaware of crime
- crime not recorded
- complaint referred
- complaint not taken seriously
3 methods crime stats come from?
- police recorded stats (hard)
- self report studies (soft)
- victim surveys (soft)
what are police recorded stats?
- stats drawn from records kept by police and other official agencies
- rely on detecting crime and reporting and recording
- collected since 1857 so have historical overview of changes
6 factors that influence the validity of police recorded stats?
- reporting crime
- recording crime
- role of police
- dark figure
- role of court
- role of government
how does reporting of crime influence the validity of P.R.S?
people less likely to report if regard it as too trivial, embarrassing, a private matter and more likely to report it if it benefits them eg insurance (property crime)
how does recording of crime influence the validity of P.R.S?
1/5 reported crimes are not in stats
there appears to be significant fall in crime- it doesnt capture real changes
how does the role of the police influence the validity of P.R.S?
filter info supplied due to seriousness, classifying, social status, discretion
police can be ordered a crackdown thereby ignoring other crimes like theft
how does the dark figure influence the validity of P.R.S?
not all crime is reported, dont appear in police stats so cant be precise about proportions of crime
how does the role of the court influence the validity of P.R.S?
stats reflect decisions and sentences and reflection of social processes
british courts work on assumption that many will plead guilty- result of unspoken agreement where defendent try get lightest possible punishment - ‘plea bargain’
how does the role of the government influence the validity of P.R.S?
what is considered a crime changes over time so any rise/fall in crime may just reflect changes in the law
what are victim surveys?
- intended to reveal dark figure
- based on surveys asking sample of population whether they have been victims of crime and if so was it reported
- used by governments and provide comparison to police stats
what is the Crime Survey for England and Wales?
survey that tries to maximise representiveness through large sample size (40k) and includes unreported crimes. households randomly selected using Postcode address file
eval of CSEW?
- reveals more of hidden figure and is reprensitive bc of large sample
- some crimes are still not included eg homeless, children underrepresented, excludes serious crimes eg homocide, SA (sensitivity)
what are self report studies?
surveys which select cross section of population and ask them what crimes/deviant behaviour they have committed. only small crimes (disadv)
what would positivists say about self report studies?
- good for patterns and trends
- dont understand motives overall in crime statd + screw you effect
what is the positivist perspective on crime stats?
- based on uncritical acceptance of accuracy of official crime stats
- eg Durkheim suicide stats as social facts ignoring coroners role= socially constructing stats
eval for positivist perspectives on crime?
- small scale research into criminal behaviour wont give representative picture
- but official stats are best way to measure crime
what are interpretivists perspectives on crime stats?
- concentrates on how they are socially constructed
- eg criminal behaviour not criminal until laballed, Becker’s variability eg sex women/male speeding
eval for interpretivists perspectives?
- removes police stats (hard stats), crimes must have happened eg self report/victims
- understanding can lead to solutions= versthen
what are the marxists perspectives on crime stats?
- stats reflects inequalities and scapegoating due to law and enforcement reflecting interests of ruling class
- eg way upper class disort reality by making focus WC crime eg knife so get away with tax fraud
eval for maxists perspective?
- too idealistic-> corporate crimes are punished harshly (ICC)
- LR say street crime is and real issue and increasing
what are left realistics perspectives on crime stats?
- favour detailed victim surveys in local areas to reveal basis for peoples fear of crime
- eg Lea and Young criminogenic triangle- crime as genuine problem, relative dep increases crime
