NCJ Number
82762
Journal
India Journal of Criminology Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1982) Pages: 4-11
Date Published
1982
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Data on crime and population in India from 1966 to 1976 were analyzed to determine whether population growth is associated with increases in crime.
Abstract
The population statistics came from decennial census reports and many other official estimates published periodically. The official publication on crime in India provided the crime statistics. The analysis assumed that the influence of intervening variables such as educational, economic, political, and social factors was constant during the time period studied. The population, the number of offenses cognizable, the number of other offenses, and the total number of offenses all increased over the 11 years. The population grew by 25 percent, cognizable offenses by 38 percent, other offenses by 61 percent, and total offenses by 55 percent during the study period. Thus, crime is outpacing population in India. Use of product-moment correlation showed that crime and population are positively related to each other. The relationship between population and crime is essentially linear. Regression analysis showed that crime is dependent on population. Further research is needed to establish the probable causal role of population in crime. Tables, figures, and 11 references are provided.