Statistical Approaches to Crime

Question 1

What was Quellets view on Moral Statistics?

Answer 1

• Drew conclusions about the social causes of crime
• Environment affects crime
• Stressed the idea that if we change social factors through legislation = solve crimes

Question 2

What does the introduction of moral statistics incorporate?

Answer 2

Enlightenment optimism

Question 3

What do crime stats reveal?

Answer 3

The set of conditions that cause crime

Question 4

What did the level of crime do despite efforts at reform and social improvement?

Answer 4

Remained static or increased

Question 5

What did criminal statistics develop out of?

Answer 5

Administrative and record-keeping needs

Question 6

In Europe from the 17th century, what was there an attempt to control?

Answer 6

A judicial apparatus

Question 7

When were statistics officially published?

Answer 7

19th century

Question 8

In France, when were the national statistics tables on crime by the MOJ developed?

Answer 8

1825

Question 9

When was the first publication of the compete which measured the annual number of known and prosecuted crimes against persons and property?

Answer 9

1827

Question 10

What did the MOJ and social statisticians believed?

Answer 10

That data could be used to perfect legislation in civil and moral matters

Question 11

Where were criminal stats in the 19th century limited to internal use by the police?

Answer 11

Germany

Question 12

When were national stats only possible after?

Answer 12

Unification

Question 13

When did Britain begin publishing annual stats?

Answer 13

1810

Question 14

What happened to statistics in Britain in the 1830s?

Answer 14

They had been divided into 6 main categories of offences

Question 15

what was one way moral statistics were used in terms of public debate?

Answer 15

Used in several countries about the debate over the death penalty

Question 16

What were Howard leagues views on moral statistics?

Answer 16

• Advocated for the abolishment of the death penalty through moral statistics.
• Hard to prove that when you remove the death penalty for a crime there will be no spike.
• Arguing the death penalty did not act as a deterrent.

Question 17

What were Quellets other views about moral Statistics?

Answer 17

• Statistics on crime were used to support social reform (for example, education)
• Criminal Statistics were used by temperance campaigners (linked alcohol to crime)
• Statistics were used by the justice system to point to the good job they were doing or used to argue for more resources.

Question 18

What were contemporaries concerned about in terms of moral statistics?

Answer 18

In England, they were aware that statistics could be distorted by different reporting practices & could be manipulated for political purposes.

Question 19

What were Germany’s concerns about in terms of moral statistics?

Answer 19

• Also believed statistics could be manipulated

- Expressed that you must be cautious when drawing conclusions from long term trends.

Question 20

What were some of the consequences associated with moral statistics?

Answer 20

• Enforced the concept of criminal classes
• Enforced the public view that crime was due to environmental factors
• Help lay the groundwork for biological models of criminality

Question 21

From the 1830s to the 1840s what was there an optimistic faith in?

Answer 21

Statistical analyses

Question 22

What did moral statisticians conclude?

Answer 22

• Crime more likely to be committed between ages 21 and 25
• Crimes more common in winter
• Alcohol consumption affected violent crime

Racial and ethnic prejudice more clear in attempts at moral geography