Evaluating the Quantity and Quality of Publicly Available Cross-National Crime Data

Janet P. Stamatel, Ph.D.School of Criminal JusticeDepartment of Informatics

University at Albany

IASSIST 2006

Kenya: Crime Down But Police Get Poor Marks

May 5, 2006

The Nation

Far-Left Violence Rising in GermanyMay 15, 2006

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Brazil Gripped by Fear as Gang Riots Spread

May 16, 2006

Belfast Telegraph

Frequency of Inclusion in Cross-National Crime Studies, 1965-2005

Source: Stamatel, 2006

Percentage of Studies1.52000000 - 15.1500000

16.6700000 - 36.3600000

37.8800000 - 63.6400000

71.2100000 - 95.4500000

Years Represented in Cross-National Crime Studies, 1965-2005

Source: Stamatel, 2006

025

5075

100

125

Tim

es a

Dat

a P

oint

Com

es fr

om th

e T

ime

Per

iod

1950

-195

4

1955

-195

9

1960

-196

4

1965

-196

9

1970

-197

4

1975

-197

9

1980

-198

4

1985

-198

9

1990

-199

4

1995

-199

9

2000

-200

4

Interpol UNCS European Sourcebook

Crime Offenses

14 types 18 types 14 types

Suspects X X X

Police X X

Prosecution X X

Courts/ Convictions

X X

Sanctions X X

Countries Reporting to Interpol, 1999

Green = reported

Countries Reporting to Interpol 1998 & 1999

Orange = 1998 only, Green = 1998 & 1999

UNCS Coverage

Wave Years # of Countries

1 1970-1975 64

2 1975-1980 80

3 1980-1985 78

4 1985-1990 100

5 1990-1994 92

6 1995-1997 75

7 1998-2000 92

Countries Reporting to UNCS, 1998-2000

Blue= reported

Interpol

1998 Coverage (orange)

UNCS

1998-2000

Coverage

(blue)

European Sourcebook, 1990 & 1995

Purple = 1990 & 95, Yellow = 95 only

Interpol & UNCS Coverage, 1998

Orange = Interpol, Blue = UNCS

Average Homicide Rates,1990-1996

Country UNCS Interpol ES

Bulgaria Mean 8.86 7.91 8.93

% Difference 10.76 -.077

Poland Mean 3.05 3.03 3.16

% Difference 0.48 -3.54

Slovenia Mean 4.50 4.56 4.77

% Difference -1.28 -6.01

Hungary Mean 4.08 4.20 5.10

% Difference -3.05 -25.14

Rank of Average Burglary Ratesfrom 1990-1996

Country UNCS Interpol ES

Czech Rep. 1 1 1

Bulgaria 2 2 2

Hungary 3 3 4

Poland 4 4 3

Slovakia 5 5 (n/a)

Croatia 6 7 5

Macedonia 7 (n/a) 6

Slovenia 8 6 7

Romania 9 8 8

Data Availability

Interpol UNCS European Sourcebook

Hardcopy 1950-present

Wave 1

Wave 2

Excel Wave 7 Wave 1

Word/PDF Wave 1

Wave 2

SPSS Waves 2-6

ASCII Wave 1

Source: CIA World Factbook

Intentional Homicide Rates, 1998

Source: Interpol

Source: CIA World Factbook