Methodology: involves collection and analysis of accurate data or facts—how much crime is there, who commits crimeWhy measure crime and criminals?Enhance our knowledge of the characteristics of various types of offensesCriminal justice agencies depend on informationTest theoryUCR= primary source of crime rates for the media or criminal agenciesPart 1 crimes (index crimes):Believed to be serious, to occur frequently, and have a greater likelihood of being reported to police.1. Criminal homicide2. Forcible rape Violent crimes – top 43. Robbery4. Aggravated assault5. Burglary6. Larceny/theft Property crimes – bottom 47. Motor vehicle theft8. ArsonPart 2 crimes (non-index crimes)Less serious, not used to calculate the crime rate, only arrest data reported to the FBI1. Simple assault2. Embezzlement3. Vandalism4. Disorderly conduct5. DUITriangulation: Methods are combined so that the strengths of one method overcome the weakness of another method.Research methodologyIndependent variable (IV)Cause variableData typesCross sectionalCollection of information at one point in timeAsked time 1 – if they have engaged in any illegal activities then ask the same people again in 6 monthsCausalityEstablishing causality (causation)Correlation (association): It must be shown that the variables are correlatedTemporal Ordering: The cause (IV) must come before the defect (DV)No other factor causes both: Rival or other potential explanatory factors need to be controlled.Programs proved ineffective by experimentsDrug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)Substance abuse prevention program in schoolsUnited Nations Surveys - police recordsInterpol crime survey - police recordsWorld Health organization – vital statInternational crime victims survey – interviewHomicide rates based on the WHO dataNations with the highest rates include: El Salvador, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Russia, BrazilThe US rate is lower than many nations, but higher than most other developed nationsRace and CrimeAfrican-Americans less than 15% of the population, 31% of all index crime arrests50% of urban black males have index crime arrest during their lives (14% for white males)25% of black men go to prison – more likely than military service or graduating college12% of Latinos, 5% for whites65% of blacks who drop out of high school go to prisonDisparate sentences for minoritiesLiberation Hypothesis: Racial disparity in sentencing most prevalent for less serious crimesProper sentence is less clear so they can consider other factors.Minorities are more likely to be sent to prison than whitesFamily: Abuse, neglect, and inconsistent discipline predict children’s delinquencyLarge family related to delinquency – but causal?Family factors related to other risk factors parental training as an interventionEducation: Education level is inversely relatedEducation affects social class and legitimate opportunitiesReligion: Research tends to find inverse relationship between religiosity and crimeEconomy: Property crimes (including robbery) tend to increase in times of bad economyExcept for auto theft; Why?No relationship for violenceCrime decreasing in the current recessionCCJS105 Study GuideElements of Crime- Prohibited by law- A criminal act took place (actus reus) (ex: if you see someone drowning and you don’t help them)- Social harm, injury to the state or people- “Guilty mind”, intent (mens rea)- Decision or act must be causally linked to harm (ex: status [illegal immigrants], speeding, drugs, prostitution)- Concurrence: actus reus and mens rea match, criminal meant to do it- Commission- rape, murder- Omission-doctors refusing to take care of patients, you knowing about terrorist plots and fail to let officials know (actus reus) Goals of the Criminal Justice System- Deterrence- dissuade people from committing crime in the future (ex: won’t commit murder because you don’t want to be put on the death penalty; had a bad experience in jail, don’t want to go back)- Incapacitation- stop people from committing crime again by capturing them and putting them in jail- Retribution- you broke the law, you pay for it; you deserve what you get- Rehabilitation- help change the criminals behavior by providing them with substance abuse, mental illnesses, and try to make them a better person- Conservatives: believe in rational choice, doing something to a person: deterrence, incapacitation, retribution- Liberal: positivism, doing something for a person: rehabilitationOnly 1 in 100 are put behind bars in AmericaOnly 1 in 31 are under correctional controlMethodology: involves collection and analysis of accurate data or facts—how much crime is there, who commits crimeWhy measure crime and criminals?- Enhance our knowledge of the characteristics of various typesof offenses- Criminal justice agencies depend on information - Test theory- UCR= primary source of crime rates for the media or criminal agenciesPart 1 crimes (index crimes):- Believed to be serious, to occur frequently, and have a greater likelihood of being reported to police.1. Criminal homicide2. Forcible rape Violent crimes – top 43. Robbery4. Aggravated assault5. Burglary6. Larceny/theft Property crimes – bottom 47. Motor vehicle theft8. Arson Part 2 crimes (non-index crimes)- Less serious, not used to calculate the crime rate, only arrest data reported to the FBI1. Simple assault 2. Embezzlement3. Vandalism4. Disorderly conduct5. DUI- Triangulation: Methods are combined so that the strengths of one method overcome the weakness of another method.Research methodology- Independent variable (IV)o Cause variable Data types- Cross sectionalo Collection of information at one point in timeo Asked time 1 – if they have engaged in any illegal activities then ask the same people again in 6 monthsMicro: used to explain individual behaviorMacro: focus on group level behaviorGeneralizability: inferences possible beyond individualValidity: accuracy of measurementReliability: consistency and or stability of measurementCausality- Establishing causality (causation)- Correlation (association): It must be shown that the variables are correlated- Temporal Ordering: The cause (IV) must come before the defect (DV)- No other factor causes both: Rival or other potential explanatory factors need to be controlled.Programs proved ineffective by experimentsDrug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)- Substance abuse prevention program in schoolsCrime
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