Running head: MEASURING CRIME PAPER

Measuring Crime Paper

Bobbi Knapp
CJS/201
November 6, 2015
Jerry Shoate

MEASURING CRIME PAPER

Measuring Crime Paper

Crime is measured in numerous ways in the United, due to the changing statistics and
crime and arrest rates. Much of the crime activity is unreported which creates misleading crime
statistics; the crime that is reported is measured through statistics that aid in creating new
prevention plans and adjusting current programs. Crime measurements are collected through the
Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and
the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and are used by Congress to inform policy
decisions and allocate federal criminal justice funding to states. (James & Rishard, 2008). These
systems measure crime activity, the magnitude of the crime, the location and the impact the
crime causes. The surveys used are to better our society and to provide more beneficial
protection.
Crime data is collected through different programs such as the Uniform Crime Reports
(UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the National Crime
Victimization Survey (James & Rishard, 2008). The reports from each program are then
reviewed and compared for similarities and differences. The data is collected through review of
reports and surveys. The focus of the data collected is to define the characteristics of criminal
victimization and the number and types of crime that is both reported and not reported to law
enforcement. The instruments used gather the information to develop detailed information about
the victims, the consequences of the crime, the magnitude of the crime and the consistency and
incidences of the crime reoccurring as well as the population and economic structure of the
community in which the crime took place (James & Rishard, 2008). An effective instrument for
measuring crime was developed through the NCS by gathering certain aspects of the surveys

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conducted; the information the NCS retrieves is through a series of screening questions.
Crime rates are numbers for crimes that are reported to the Uniform Crime Report,
National Crime Victimization Survey and National Incident Based Reporting System. Only the
crimes reported to law enforcement are added to the UCR by the FBI, the NCVS surveys certain
households and the NIBRS is replacing the UCR. Arrest statistics are gathered from the amount
of arrest based off of reported crimes. If a crime is not reported, then the different reporting data
cannot carry this as a crime and an arrest will not be made. Clearance rates are when a crime has
been committed and an arrest or charges have been filed against an offender. Recidivism rates
apply to the offender who has been rehabilitated and commits the same crime or a different crime
at a later date in time. All four of the rates if reported will be available in one if not all three of
the data collection tools that are used for reported crimes.
According to Rosemary Gido, a professor from Indiana University of Pennsylvania,
crime rates are deceiving. Her class discussed in depth about crime rates and how they appear to
be going up. Due to a criminal justice system that has grown one would think that crime rates are
increasing. To the contrary one has to take a look at specific numbers and some other
considerations before making assumptions these things must be analyzed: type of offender, type
of crime and where crime is happening. The increase of crime also changed in regards to the
number of juveniles committing crimes, she stated that due to the large influx of juveniles
committing certain crimes they were transferred to the adult system. These factors have
contributed to a larger prison population.
In the late 1980s into early 1990s crime rates went up due to due to a recession period
economically. In 1993 crime rates started decreasing this included homicides and property
crimes, this in part was due to and economic boom that started. The increase of crime can be

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correlated to the economy, when the economy is doing well less crime is committed, when in a
recession crime rates spike. This holds true for crime directed towards the public and property
crime. During the upswing of the economy from 1993 to 2000 crime for the most part was down
substantially. The economic situation that we are currently experiencing has created an upswing
in violent crime and property crime. You turn on the evening news and hear of violent protest
and crime rate going through the roof this is in part to the economic situation the United States is
currently experiencing
Crime rates are going to be generally higher than the arrest rates for all crimes. This is
due to many circumstances that preclude law enforcement from making an arrest for crimes
committed. Some examples include in ability to capture offender due to physical location of
offender, offender deceased, victim does not press charges. If the victim in a case does not press
any charges, then for the sake of crime itself it sorts of never happened.
Based on the high statistics the UCR, the NCVS and the NIBRS, the saying once a
criminal always a criminal seems to still ring true. The majority of those who have been arrested
and or prosecuted of a crime have reoffended. This pattern indicates that crime is a part of the
society we live amongst in this country. Even with community participation with law
enforcement members, the arrest of criminals, and or the perhaps conviction of those criminals;
crime is going to be a given as certain individuals choose not to abide by the laws put in place to
keep society safe. Criminals go through the motions of committing a crime, eventually being
arrested, convicted, and released. As discussed earlier, community involvement in conjunction
with the duties of the police can greatly deter crime; but it will not all together extinguish crime.
Only until those individuals make a conscious effort to change their ways will crime cease.

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The Uniform Crime Reports, National Incident-based Reporting System and the National
Crime Victimization Survey are all methods used to measure crime in the United States. While
each of these methods has beneficial aspects, the most useful method of measuring crime is the
individual surveys. The value of knowing exactly how violent our country has been or is
becoming is necessary to put in motion equal methods of correcting the horrific behavior of our
peers, rehabilitating criminals and one day seeing the next generation and law enforcement
working alongside each other to make the world a safer place.

References
Arrest. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-inthe-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/persons-arrested
Bureau of Justice Statistics . (2015, November 5). Recidivism . Retrieved from
Bureau of Justice Statistics : http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?
ty=tp&tid=17
James, N., & Rishard, L. (2008, January 3). How Crime in the United States Is
Measured. Retrieved from http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34309.pdf
National Institute of Justice. (2014, June 17). Recidivism . Retrieved from
National Institute of Justice:
http://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/recidivism/Pages/welcome.aspx

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Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the
21st Century. (11).