NCJ Number
215367
Date Published
February 2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This report presents the discussion of an expert group that was convened by the United Nations to examine means of improving crime data collection, research, and analysis in order to enhance the work of the United Nations as well as international law enforcement cooperation.
Abstract
The main conclusion of the expert group was that there are three fundamental purposes for the collection of crime data by the United Nations: (1) it is the duty of the United Nations to collect information from member states on the subject of multilateral instruments; (2) to become a repository of information on crime trends and forecasting; and (3) for programming and evaluation purposes at the national and international levels. A series of 15 recommendations were offered on how the collection of crime data, research, and analysis might be improved. Recommendations include the advice to revise and refocus the current questionnaire used for the United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems and to improve the response rate of the survey by, for example, implementing a system for mailing the questionnaire to the appropriate person. The expert group recommended that the quality of data be improved by increasing the involvement of the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and the regional offices of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It is advised that the United Nations should combine findings based on statistics, victim surveys, and relevant data on transnational organized crime and corruption and that data collection and research should be integrated in order to establish crime estimates, magnitudes, and trends. It is recommended that the United Nations play a role in promoting the use of victim surveys among businesses and target groups, as well as within developing countries. The organization of the meeting, which was held in Vienna from February 8 through 10, 2006, is recounted, as is the attendance, election of officers, and adoption of the agenda. A summary of the discussion is provided. Annex