Practical Knowledge Using Crime Data And Statistics

1
Practical Knowledge Using Crime Data And
Statistics

• We left off discussing factors that affect the
  crime rate.

2
Crime Statistics

• What are the most common crimes?

3
International Crime Statistics

• Highest Overall Victimization Rates
• Latin America
• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Why might international crime statistics and data
  interest us?

4
International Crime Statistics

• Highest Female Victimization Rates
• Latin America
• Africa
• North America
• Australia
• New Zealand

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International Crime Statistics

• Female Victimization Rates
• Violence against women is less frequent where
  women are more emancipated.
• Less than 1 in 3 female victims of violence
  report their victimization to police.
• Why do so few women report their victimization?

6
Crime Patterns

• What would higher crime rates in poor
  neighborhoods tend to show?

7
Ecology Of Crime

• During which months do most reported crime occur?
• Exceptions

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Ecology Of Crime

• What other ecological factors affect crime?

9
Firearms And Crime

• What effect does firearm availability have on
  crime?

10
Social Class And Crime

• Is crime a lower class phenomenon?

11
Social Class And Crime

• Is crime a lower class phenomenon?
• The lower class is involved in more reported
  crimes.
• Expressive Crimes Rape, Assault, etc.
• Poverty class is believed to participate in more
  expressive crimes as a means of expressing anger
  and frustration against society.
• Alcohol and drug abuse are common and contribute
  to violent actions.

12
Social Class And Crime

• Is youth crime more common in lower class
  neighborhoods?

13
Social Class And Crime

• Factors Associated With Serious Violent Crime
• Income Inequality
• Poverty
• Resource Deprivation
• Crime Rates Drop When
• The poor are provided with economic opportunities
  such as welfare and public assistance.

14
Age And Crime

• Youths Age 13 to 17
• Comprise 6 of US population
• Commit 25 of index crimes, 17 of all crime
• Adults Age 45 and Over
• Comprise 30 of US population
• Commit less than 10 of index crimes
• Adults Age 65 and Over
• Comprise 12 of US population
• Account for less than 1 of arrests

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Age And Crime

• Why do youth commit such a proportionately large
  share of crime?
• Impatience
• Unable of unwilling to delay gratification
• Poor judgment
• Fun, risk seek behavior

16
Age And Crime

• What contributes to youth aging out of crime?

17
Gender And Crime

• Do males commit more crimes than do females?
• Do males commit more violent crimes?
• If so, why?

18
Gender And Crime

• If females are less inclined by nature and
  socialization to commit crime, why do they commit
  crime?

19
Gender And Crime

• Are women closing the gap with men and committing
  more crime?

20
Race And Crime

• Minority group members are involved in a
  disproportionate share of crime.
• African Americans
• 12 of population
• 41 of index violent crime arrests
• 34 of property crime arrests
• African American youths are more likely to be
  arrested
• Why might this be the case?

21
Race And Crime

• Is bias deliberate?
• Is bias malicious? What makes it so?
• Is bias avoidable?

22
Racial Factors And Crime

• Does US culture influence African American crime
  rates?

23
Racial Factors And Crime

• What racial factors may explain crime?
• Economic Deprivation
• Social Disorganization
• Sub-cultural Adaptations
• Impact of racism and discrimination on
  personality

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Racial Factors And Crime

• Is racism still an element of daily life for
  African Americans?
• If it is, what effect does that have?

25
Racial Factors And Crime

• Convergence
• Is it possible that crime rates will converge if
  economic and social obstacles are removed?

26
Victims And Crime

• Data sources provide information about victims as
  well as criminals.
• Where are crimes most likely to occur?
• Violent Crimes
• Rape and Aggravated Assaults
• Unarmed Robberies and Larcenies

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Victims And Crime

• Violent Crime Most Common Locations

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Victims And Crime

• Rape and Aggravated Assault Most Likely
• Typically Between 600 PM and 600 AM
• Unarmed Robberies and Larcenies Likely
• During Daytime Hours

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Victims And Crime

• Most Vulnerable To Crime
• Least Vulnerable To Crime

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Victims and Crime

• Gender Relationship and Victims
• Men are more likely to be crime victims
• Exception Rape and Sexual Assault Offenses
• Age Relationship and Victims
• Young people more likely to be crime victims.
• Victimization rate decreases after age 25.

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Criminal Careers

• Do most offenders continue to commit crime?
• What is a career criminal?

32
Poverty And Crime

• Is poverty a significant factor, or is it a
  determining factor, in crime?

33
Gender And Crime

• If males are more violent than females due to
  biological factors, is not their behavior
  somewhat beyond their control?
• If this is the case, should courts be more
  lenient with male violent offenders?

34
Violence And Television

• Violence rates are higher in large cities than in
  small towns.
• People throughout the country listen to the same
  music and watch the same television shows.
• What does this tell us about the effect of music,
  TV and movies on violent behavior?

35
Drug Enforcement Costs

• Drug law enforcement costs 50 billion yearly.
• Individual drug users who are convicted of felony
  drug charges carry the stigma of criminal drug
  activity for the rest of their life.
• Should drug laws be changed?
• If so, how?

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End Quiz 1 Material
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Break

• Read assignments.
• Participate in class discussions.
• Review notes weekly.