NCJ Number
16126
Journal
Society Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1974) Pages: 27-33
Date Published
1974
Length
7 pages
Annotation
WHILE POLITICIANS, NEWSPAPERS AND NATIONAL MAGAZINES CITE SURVEYS TO PROVE THAT CITIZENS ARE AFRAID TO WALK THE STREETS AND HAVE ADOPTED STRONG ANTI-CRIME MEASURES, OTHER SOURCES SHOW A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
Abstract
CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME, BUT THEY MAY BE RESPONDING AS MUCH TO THE POLITICAL ISSUE AS TO THE ACTUAL PROBLEM OF CRIME. POLITICIANS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF PROFESSIONAL CRIME-FIGHTING AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY THE POLICE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE OF CRIME. ASSESSMENT OF POLICE CRIME STATISTICS IS THE PRIMARY TECHNIQUE USED TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FEDERAL ANTICRIME PROGRAMS. THESE STATISTICS ARE ALSO SELF-SERVING MEASURES OF ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND A POOR INDEX OF THE TRUE INCIDENCE OF CRIME. IF AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CRIME-FIGHTING SYSTEM IS NOT COUNTERBALANCED BY A CHANGE IN THE CRIME-REPORTING SYSTEM, THEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES SHOULD RESULT. THIS PARADOXICAL OUTCOME, HOWEVER, UNDERMINES THE IMAGE OF POLICE AS SUCCESSFUL CRIME FIGHTERS, THREATENS THEIR RESOURCES AND INTENSIFIES PUBLIC FEAR OF CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)