NCJ Number
218916
Date Published
January 2007
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the area of crime-data collection, with attention to the United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems.
Abstract
Based on the data available for 2003-2004, crime levels were relatively stable. Over the longer period of 1995-2004, trends for individual offenses showed increases in drug-related crime and robbery. There may be a correlation between these two types of crime and transnational organized crime. Data are presented on the number of countries that have responded to the United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems. Over the 9 surveys, the number of responding countries peaked at the fifth survey (n=103) and then declined to its lowest number of responding countries in the eighth survey (n=66). The ninth survey had 74 responding countries. This report outlines plans underway to increase the survey's response rate. In reporting on transnational organized crime, attention is given to a study completed in 2006 on the role of organized crime in smuggling migrants from Africa into Europe. The report also mentions the development of a questionnaire and methodology for surveys of businesses regarding their experience of international crime and corruption. The questionnaire covers bribery, corruption, fraud, extortion, and other types of crime that have an impact on business and industry. The information available on conventional crime is based on data collected through the United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice System. Survey results are presented for trends observed in selected categories of crime recorded by police in countries that have consistently completed this survey for the period 1995-2004. 6 figures