Putting Deviance in Perspective:Some Statistics on Crime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrQqDH-Bck (2:51) ‘Canadas crime rate lowest in decades’

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

Reporting bias in Crime Statistics

Police statistics under-reported to pad stats

Reporting of crime is inconsistent from place to place and from time to time

Eg- Domestic violence in Winnipeg:

-1990- 1444 reported incidents-1996- 3387 in 1996 reported

incidents

Reporting bias?

Its an English study but you get the point…

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

Are you surprised by these stats?

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

What about these stats?

Gender & Crime

Men make up over 80% of those charged with crime

They are more involved in violent crime and major property offences

From 1968-1992, the percentage of offences committed by women increased from 9 % to 18%

Why do you think males commit more crime? Why do you think this stat is evolving?

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

Incarceration Rates in Various Countries (Nelson, 2004)

0100200300400500600700800

Can

ada

US

R

uss

ia

UK

Au

stra

liaF

ran

ce

Ital

yN

ethe

rlan

dsS

wed

en

Japa

n

Countries

Per 100,000 Population

Rates

Some International Homicide Rates (Nelson, 2004)

1.8

5.4

1.2

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Per 100,000 Population

Canada US UK

Countries

Rates