NCJ Number
54703
Journal
REVIEW OF BLACK POLITICAL ECONOMY Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 405-410
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS CRITIQUE EVALUATES AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY HINDELANG THAT USES VICTIM SURVEY DATA TO STUDY THE REPRESENTATION OF BLACKS IN CRIMINAL EVENTS AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH SELECTION BIAS INFLUENCES OVERREPRESENTATION.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS OF HINDELANG BEGINS BY COMPARING FINDINGS GENERATED FROM OFFICIAL DATA SOURCES AND SELF-REPORT RESEARCH TO FINDINGS OBTAINED FROM NATIONAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS. BLACKS ARE FOUND TO BE OVERREPRESENTED WITH RESPECT TO THEIR POPULATION IN COMMON LAW PERSONAL CRIMES AS HINDELANG SUGGESTS THAT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OFFICIAL AND SELF-REPORT FINDINGS ARE RESOLVED BY VICTIM SURVEY RESULTS, SUCH A CONCLUSION IS, AT BEST, PREMATURE. VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS SUFFER FROM SOME OF THE SAME METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SELF-REPORTED TECHNIQUE. THE DEGREE TO WHICH VICTIM RESPONDENTS ACCURATELY REMEMBER EVENTS WITHIN A GIVEN REFERENCE PERIOD AND RECOUNT THESE EVENTS FACTUALLY IS UNCLEAR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, REMEMBERING EVENTS DEPENDS SOLELY ON A VICTIM'S PERCEPTION OF WHAT OCCURRED. THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF A VICTIM'S PERCEPTION REGARDING CHARACTERISTICS OF INCIDENTS OR OFFENDERS. SEVERE BIASING EFFECTS IN VICTIM SURVEYS MAKE DIRECT COMPARISONS DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. SIMPLY PUT, VICTIM, OFFENDER, AND OFFICIAL PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY ARE NOT CONGRUENT. STUDIES DEALING WITH THE REPRESENTATION OF BLACKS IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ARE CITED, ALTHOUGH THESE STUDIES ARE MORE FAR FROM CONCLUSIVE CONCERNING THE DEGREE TO WHICH SELECTION BIAS OPERATES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. STUDIES OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS DO NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT BLACK INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IT IS IMPLIED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING INHERENT IN RACIAL STATUS THAT EXPLAINS DIFFERENCES IN SUCH INVOLVEMENT. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)