NCJ Number
82565
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1982) Pages: 135-165
Date Published
1982
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Recent public policy statements assert that crime is on the increase and that this increase has led to overcrowded prisons. However, contradictory trends in crime and criminal justice activity appear in the published data. Is crime increasing? remaining stable? or decreasing?
Abstract
A yes to each question is possible, depending on the indicator and time period selected or the criminology text consulted. Similar inconsistencies can be found in the data on prison populations. To help sort out these apparent contradictions, the authors present guidelines for number and type of indicators, trend analysis time periods, and data currency. They draw conclusions about recent trends in crime and punishment and comment on the limitations of their analysis. (Author abstract)