There are different statistics on how to measure crime. Data is collected, surveys are filled out, and even one on one interactions occur in order to have an idea of the amount of crime that happens in a location. For example, the Uniform Crime Report releases the number and rates of crime per 100,000 people. The UCR covers over 95% of the population, which gives us a number that includes the majority of the population. Their data is collected through reporting a crime, but there are some issues with crime reporting. A rape crime is reported only if the victim is a female. This alters the number of crime because the report only focuses on one sex rather than both. Sometimes a crime is not reported by the people because it doesn’t seem serious
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Finally, there is the National Victimization Survey. This survey only focuses on those affected by a crime and it measures the extent of the crime, or in other words “how much was the victim affected by the crime?” Because these surveys are taken in the home and calculates the victimization in the household. It’s believed that this survey holds more truth and more accuracy because it helped uncover “dark figure”, which is the true number of crimes that occur. Dark figure shows just how much crime actually happens and how little of them are actually reported to the police. Although they are more accurate in measuring the crime that happens in the household, it is nearly impossible for the victims to recall every act that was committed against them. With this in mind, not only can it decrease the numbers due to lack of memory, but it can also increase the number because of it. Going of based on memory can alter the number and make it inaccurate. In conclusion, these reports allow citizens how much crime happens in society and helps us calculate whether crime is increasing or decreasing each
Finally, there is the National Victimization Survey. This survey only focuses on those affected by a crime and it measures the extent of the crime, or in other words “how much was the victim affected by the crime?” Because these surveys are taken in the home and calculates the victimization in the household. It’s believed that this survey holds more truth and more accuracy because it helped uncover “dark figure”, which is the true number of crimes that occur. Dark figure shows just how much crime actually happens and how little of them are actually reported to the police. Although they are more accurate in measuring the crime that happens in the household, it is nearly impossible for the victims to recall every act that was committed against them. With this in mind, not only can it decrease the numbers due to lack of memory, but it can also increase the number because of it. Going of based on memory can alter the number and make it inaccurate. In conclusion, these reports allow citizens how much crime happens in society and helps us calculate whether crime is increasing or decreasing each