NCJ Number
144448
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (July 1993) Pages: 116-126
Date Published
1993
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This analysis of police statistics notes that reported crime rates are influenced by the way various agencies screen out cases at different stages of the recording procedures and suggests and applies to Australia a method for making more accurate comparisons among police agencies and jurisdictions.
Abstract
The variations among approaches to screening results in a lack of comparability of crime statistics from one jurisdiction from another. However, the degree to which the police screen cases can be estimated if certain assumptions are accepted. One assumption is that different types of crime are more susceptible to police discretion. This approach can produce a "recording index," or ratio of screenable to nonscreenable crimes. This recording index can be assumed to be an indicator of the police tendency to record crimes. This recording index can be used to adjust the statistics from various police agencies. The adjusted rate may be a better measure of actual crime than the original, particularly for the purpose of comparing jurisdictions. Nevertheless, comparisons should be made only among systems in which the dynamics are fairly well understood. In addition, total crime rates should not be used as a measure of criminal behavior or police effectiveness. Tables and 9 references