Forensics: Defining and Measuring crime

Question 1

Problems defining crime are…

Answer 1

1. Historical

2. Cultural

Question 2

Define cultural problems with defining crime

Answer 2

what is considered a crime in one culture may not be considered a crime in another culture e.g. forced marriage

Question 3

Define historical problems with defining crime

Answer 3

definitions of crime change over time e.g. homosexuality

Question 4

Ways of measuring crime are…

Answer 4

1. Official statistics
2. Offender survey
3. Victim survey

Question 5

Define official statistics as a way of measuring crime

Answer 5

Government records of criminals

Question 6

Define victim surveys as a way of measuring crime

Answer 6

Public document crimes what have happened to them in the last year

Question 7

Deine offener surveys

Answer 7

Likely offenders asked to record the crimes they have committed

Question 8

Evaluation of defining and measuring crime:

Answer 8

• OSt Does not include ‘dark figure’ (crimes not reported)
  + VS include ‘dark figure’
• VS based on memory, lack accuracy
• OS likely to lie
  + OS provides insight to who commits what crime