COMPARING MEASURES OF CRIME - POLICE STATISTICS AND SURVEY ESTIMATES OF CITIZEN VICTIMIZATION IN AMERICAN CITIES

• NCJ Number: 18334
• Author(s): W G SKOGAN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: American Statistical Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT FROM THE 1974 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION

Annotation

A DISCUSSION OF THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF CRIME RATE ESTIMATES, AND THE POSSIBLE SOURCES OF MEASUREMENT ERROR FOR OFFICIAL CRIME STATISTICS AND VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS.

Abstract

THE USE OF CRIME MEASURES SUCH AS THE FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS AND POPULATION SURVEYS OF VICTIMIZATION IS DISCUSSED. IT IS STATED THAT BOTH OFFICIAL AND SURVEY STATISTICS ARE SUBJECT TO ERROR. POSSIBLE SOURCES OF MEASUREMENT ERROR FOR OFFICIAL OR POLICE STATISTICS ARE: 1) MANY CRIMES, SUCH AS SHOPLIFTING, GO UNNOTICED AND CANNOT BE REPORTED INDIVIDUALLY; 2) NOT ALL CRIMES ARE REPORTED TO POLICE BY VICTIMS; 3) POLICE MAY NOT WRITE A FORMAL REPORT FOR EACH REPORTED CRIME; 4) POLICE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY IN CORRECTLY CLASSIFYING REPORTED CRIMES; AND 5) POLICE MAY UNDERREPORT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF EVENTS IN THEIR FILES. THE SOURCES OF SURVEY MEASUREMENT ERROR INCLUDE: 1) WHETHER OR NOT VICTIMS ARE DIRECTLY INTERVIEWED; 2) SAMPLING DEFICIENCIES; 3) PROBLEMS WITH VICTIM RECALL OF EVENTS; 4) VICTIM UNWILLINGNESS TO REPORT CERTAIN TYPES OF VICTIMIZATIONS; AND 5) VICTIM'S TENDENCY TO REPORT VICTIMIZATIONS THAT DID NOT ACTUALLY OCCUR DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD (TELESCOPING). METHODS OF ESTIMATING ERROR MAGNITUDE ARE DISCUSSED FOR BOTH OFFICIAL STATISTICS AND CRIME VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS.