This document discusses sources of crime data and different theories of criminology. It describes the Uniform Crime Reports and National Incident Based Reporting System as two major sources of crime data in the US. It also summarizes biological, psychological, sociological, and conflict theories of criminology. Biological theories view crime as influenced by genetic and physiological factors while psychological theories examine individual mental processes and conditioning. Sociological theories analyze group dynamics and social disorganization. Conflict theories see crime as resulting from economic and social inequalities between groups in society. The document outlines the key assumptions and social policy implications of each theoretical perspective.

1. CHAPTER
2
The Crime
Picture
1

2. The Value of Data
•policy
• programs
 laws
 funding
2

3. Sources of Data
1. Uniform Crime Reports (UCR/NIBRS)
2. National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
 Professional organizations
 Offender self-reports
 Other regular publications
3

4. NIBRS: The New UCR
National Incident Based Reporting System
 FBI: 1988
 Law enforcement:
-crime/arrest
4

5. NIBRS
-location
-weapon
-type/value of property
-characteristics vic/perp
-vic/perp relationship
-disposition

6. UCR/NIBRS
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Also collects data on:
 bad checks  liquor law violations
 vagrancy  “peeping Tom”
 disorderly conduct activities
 driving under the  runaways
influence  trespassing
 drunkenness  general category of all
 non-violent family “other” criminal law
offenses violations
6

7. UCR/NIBRS: Crime Rates
# of crimes
Crime Rate =
100,000
population
7

8. UCR/NIBRS: Clearance
Rates
Clearance Rate = number of crimes solved
number of crimes committed
8

9. Murder
unlawful killing of a human being by
another
Includes:
 Willful/unlawful homicides
 Non-negligent manslaughter
9

10. Murder: Multiple Killings
Spree: two/more
-more than one occasion
Mass: three/more
-single event
Serial: three/more
-time/cooling off
10

11. Forcible Rape
carnal knowledge forcibly/against will
Includes:
 Assault/attempt
11

12. Rape: underreported: 60%
-Police unsympathetic
-Embarrassment/publicity
-Reprisals
-Additional “victimization”
12

13. Robbery
taking/attempted taking
property of another
Force fear of force
13

14. Aggravated Assault
serious injury upon another
Includes:
 Attempted-deadly weapon
14

15. Burglary
unlawful entry –structure
to commit a felony/theft
15

16. Larceny–theft
unlawful
taking/carrying/leading/riding away
from possession of another
16

17. Motor Vehicle Theft
Theft/attempted of motor vehicle
-self-propelled-land/not rails
17

18. Motor Vehicle Theft
Includes Excludes
automobiles trains
motorcycles airplanes
motor scooters bulldozers
trucks most farm equipment
buses ships
snowmobiles boats
spacecraft
18

19. Arson
burning/attempted burning of property
with/without intent to defraud
Structures & vehicles
19

20. Part II Offenses
-social order offenses:
 Simple assault
 DUI
 Prostitution
 Vandalism
 Receiving stolen property
 Fraud
 Embezzlement
20

21. NCVS
National Crime Victimization Survey
 self-reports
 “dark figure” of crime
> 50,000 households surveyed twice per year
21

22. Dark Figure of Crime
crimes
known
all to the police
crime
dark figure
22

23. NCVS Statistics Reveal
 1/2 of violent crime reported
 1/3 of all property crime reported
23

24. Women and Crime
 Women:
likely to be injured during crime
Lifestyle modifications due to threat
24

25. Findings of the National Violence Against
Women Survey (NVAWS)
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 52% have been physically assaulted as child/adult
 1.9 million women physically assaulted in U.S. each year
 25% (8% of men) experienced partner violence
 18% experienced a completed/attempted rape (> half under
18 when first raped)
 More likely to be injured during assault
 Violence against women primarily partner violence
 8% of women have been stalked.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE TODAY, 10E © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc
by Dr. Frank Schmalleger Pearson Prentice Hall
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
25

26. Violence Against Women
Act (VAWA)
• Rape Shield Law to civil/criminal cases
 Federal funding
26

27. Anti-Stalking Laws
 All states
-protection to women (80%)
 Cyberstalking:
-internet/email/electronic
communication to stalk
27

28. Elderly Crime Victims
•Lowest rate of victimization
-high fear rate
-targets of scams
28

29. Hate Crimes
Hate crimes:
-hatred/bias/prejudice
-actual/perceived
- race/color/religion/national origin/ethnicity
gender/sexual orientation
29

30. Organized Crime
-highly organized/disciplined association
-illegal goods/services
-RICO Act
30

31. Drug Crime
 > x 2 since 1975
 Federal prosecutions:
-11,854 in 1984
-40,000 in 2001
•Drugs=other crimes
31

32. Cybercrime
Cybercrime:
-computer
-federal/state computer statute
-victims?
32

33. Causes of Crime
 causes?
 Basically good?
 Why some violent/aggressive?
 Self-interest?
33

34. Criminology
Criminology: causes
Crime—violation of criminal law w/o legal
justification
Deviance—
-violation of social norms
-appropriate behavior
-particular set of circumstances
34

35. Criminological Theory
 Theory-interrelated propositions
-describe/explain/predict
35

36. Characteristics of
Biological Theories
Basic Assumptions
-genetic
-hereditary
-primitive developmental/evolutionary process
36

37. Social Policy and Biological
Theories
“Extreme.”
Eugenics (1920s)
37

38. Psychobiological
Theories
38

39. Characteristics of
Psychobiological Theories
Basic Assumptions
-DNA
-nutrition
-hormones
-physical trauma
-body chemistry
39

40. Chromosome Theory
-Supermales:(XYY)
-Later studies disputed findings
40

41. Biochemical Factors and
Imbalances
Biocriminology:
-eating habits
-vitamin deficiencies
-genetics
41

42. Social Policy and Biological
Theories
Policies: modify body chemistry-change behavior
Example: Medication
42

43. Psychological
Theories
43

44. Characteristics of
Psychological Theories
Basic Assumptions
-individual-unit of analysis
-personality-motivational element
-abnormal mental processes
44

45. Behavioral Conditioning
-behavior-increased/decreased by reward/punishment/other
stimuli
-Pavlov’s dogs
45

46. Psychopathology and
Crime
Psychopathology: mental illness
Psychopath:
-personality disorder/antisocial
-likely to become criminal
46

47. The Psychotic Offender
Psychosis:
-mental disorder
-out of touch with reality
-can lead to crime
47

48. Social Policy and
Psychological Theories
-individualistic/treatment and therapy plans
-reduce dangerousness
48

49. Sociological
Theories
49

50. Characteristics of
Sociological Theories
Basic Assumptions
-Group dynamics-causal basis
-Social disorganization-criminal behavior
50

51. Social Policy and
Sociological Theories
-change cultural conditions that lead people into crime
51

52. Social Process
Theories
52

53. Characteristics of Social
Process Theories
Basic Assumptions
-Low self-esteem/no meaningful social roles
-crime-socialization
-crime-observation
53

54. Social Policy and Social
Process Theories
-Improve self esteem
-mentor programs
54

55. Conflict
Theories
55

56. Characteristics of Conflict
Theory
-crime-economic/social inequities
-conflict among groups-unavoidable
-laws-interests of powerful
56

57. Social Policy and
Conflict Theories
Focus on injustices and inequality-Revolution!
-job opportunities
-prison overcrowding
57