NCJ Number
26141
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 42 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1975) Pages: 72-73
Date Published
1975
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE FRIGHTENING INCREASES IN CRIME AND VIOLENCE REFLECTED IN THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS ARE ACTUALLY, THE AUTHOR CONTENDS, THE RESULT OF IMPROVED CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICAL METHODS.
Abstract
IT IS ARGUED THAT CRIME AND VIOLENCE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A COMMON FEATURE OF AMERICAN CULTURE. HOWEVER, THE MEANS OF QUANTIFYING AND TABULATING THESE INCIDENTS HAVE NOT ALWAYS EXISTED. THE AUTHOR TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING SYSTEM AND POINTS OUT THE GREAT INCREASES IN ACCURACY OF REPORTING THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS SYSTEM SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE 1930'S. HE CONCLUDES THAT INCREASES IN REPORTED CRIME ARE LARGELY THE RESULT OF THESE IMPORVED STATISTICAL METHODS AND NOT THE RESULT OF INCREASES IN THE NUMBERS OF CRIMINALS AND CRIMINAL INCIDENTS. IT IS FURTHER ARGUED THAT MORE CRIMES ARE BEING REPORTED NOW, WHICH CAUSES AN APPARENT, BUT MISLEADING RISE IN THE CRIME RATE.