NCJ Number
163378
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 297-313
Date Published
1996
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews quantitative criminological research, especially of a sophisticated mathematical nature, published by researchers in Australia and New Zealand since 1981.
Abstract
A statistical analysis of quantitative criminological articles published between 1981 and 1995 in the leading academic journal, "The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology," shows that, using the five topical categories developed by Farrington, there has been little change in the types of research conducted, with studies of court processes and correctional issues accounting for two-thirds of research papers. The numbers of "simple" and "sophisticated" quantitative criminological articles as proportions of the total number of articles published also did not vary over the 15 years. Areas of strength in quantitative research include drugs, alcohol, and crime; indigenous peoples and the criminal justice system; regulatory law enforcement; the modeling of recidivism; and sentencing. Most sophisticated quantitative research is conducted by noncriminologists, and it is unlikely that the amount of mathematically sophisticated research will increase significantly in the next few years. Experimental studies and longitudinal designs will probably slowly grow in popularity, and crime prevention will emerge as an area of quantitative strength. 55 references