Practical Knowledge Using Practical Knowledge Using Crime Data And StatisticsCrime Data And Statistics

We left off discussing factors that affect the crime rate.

Crime StatisticsCrime Statistics

What are the most common crimes?

International Crime StatisticsInternational Crime Statistics

Highest Overall Victimization Rates– Latin America– Sub-Saharan Africa

– Why might international crime statistics and data interest us?

International Crime StatisticsInternational Crime Statistics

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

International Crime StatisticsInternational 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?

Crime PatternsCrime Patterns

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

Ecology Of CrimeEcology Of Crime

During which months do most reported crime occur?

Exceptions:

Ecology Of CrimeEcology Of Crime

What other ecological factors affect crime?

Firearms And CrimeFirearms And Crime

What effect does firearm availability have on crime?

Social Class And CrimeSocial Class And Crime

Is crime a lower class phenomenon?

Social Class And CrimeSocial 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.

Social Class And CrimeSocial Class And Crime

Is youth crime more common in lower class neighborhoods?

Social Class And CrimeSocial 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.

Age And CrimeAge 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

Age And CrimeAge 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

Age And CrimeAge And Crime

What contributes to youth “aging out” of crime?

Gender And CrimeGender And Crime

Do males commit more crimes than do females?

Do males commit more violent crimes?If so, why?

Gender And CrimeGender And Crime

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

Gender And CrimeGender And Crime

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

Race And CrimeRace 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?

Race And CrimeRace And Crime

Is bias deliberate?

Is bias malicious? What makes it so?

Is bias avoidable?

Racial Factors And CrimeRacial Factors And Crime

Does US culture influence African American crime rates?

Racial Factors And CrimeRacial Factors And Crime

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

personality

Racial Factors And CrimeRacial Factors And Crime

Is racism still an element of daily life for African Americans?

If it is, what effect does that have?

Racial Factors And CrimeRacial Factors And Crime

Convergence:

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

Victims And CrimeVictims 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

Victims And CrimeVictims And Crime

Violent Crime: Most Common Locations

Victims And CrimeVictims And Crime

Rape and Aggravated Assault: Most Likely– Typically Between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM

Unarmed Robberies and Larcenies: Likely– During Daytime Hours

Victims And CrimeVictims And Crime

Most Vulnerable To Crime

Least Vulnerable To Crime

Victims and CrimeVictims 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.

Criminal CareersCriminal Careers

Do most offenders continue to commit crime?

What is a career criminal?

Poverty And CrimePoverty And Crime

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

Gender And CrimeGender 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?

Violence And TelevisionViolence 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?

Drug Enforcement CostsDrug 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?

End Quiz #1 MaterialEnd Quiz #1 Material

BreakBreak

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