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Us Crime Measurement

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Us Crime Measurement
US Crime Measurement
Lona Hernandez
CJUS141-1203A-18: Introduction to Criminal Justice
Professor Lisa Burkart
Colorado Technical University
July 16, 2012

Crime statistics enables us to see crime in America by using tables and graphs, as well as what we hear on the news. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) receives their statistics from two different agencies. Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program sends study and analysis from data collected from 17,000 jurisdictions that make up the UCR. The information that is used to make up the statistics is based on crimes reported to the Uniforms. Only eight are indexed; murder and no negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault), as well as property crimes that include the greatest potential danger or cost (e.g., burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson). If variables that affect crime in a town, city, county, state, region, or other jurisdiction are not included in the data used then it cannot be effectively compared (Territo, Halsted, & Bromley, 2004).
The second agency that the FBI receives statics is The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). The data that the NCVS collect from individuals and households twice yearly that suffered from types of crimes and whether the crimes were or were not reported. (Territo, Halsted, & Bromley, 2004). The crime statistics that we are aware of enables to see eight of the eight index crimes, and the rate of each crime that is committed. Whereas the media, internet, and newspapers only inform us of what crime has been committed not the statistics of it. With some crimes not being indexed we the public are not aware of the crimes committed and the percentage.
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) also provides statistics to the UCR so that it may be added to the data collected for the FBI. The NIBRS immersion allows for a more thorough and comprehensive depiction of the data and in turn gives researchers a better


References: EduDecisions. (2012). The United States Criminal Justice System. Retrieved from EduDecisions Web site: http://www.edudecisions.com/articles/criminal-justice-careers/system.php Russell-Einhorn, M., Ward, S., & Seeherman, A. (2000, May). Federal-Local Law Enforcement Collaboration in Investigating and Prosecuting Urban Crime, 1982–1999: Drugs, Weapons, and Gangs. Retrieved from Abt Associates Inc. Web site: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/201782.pdf Saad, L. (2007, October 27). Perceptions of Crime Problem Remain Curiously Negative. Retrieved from Gallup Web Site: http://www.gallup.com/poll/102262/perceptions-crime-problem-remain-curiously-negative.aspx Territo, L., Halsted, J. B., & Bromley, M. L. (2004). Crime and Justice in America: A Human Perspective (Sixth Edition). Prentice Hall: Pearson.
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