NCJ Number
203775
Date Published
2001
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This report examines the feasibility of comparing reported police crime statistics between Canada and the United States.
Abstract
Researchers, policymakers, and the media, among others are all interested in making cross-national crime statistics comparisons, particularly between the United States and Canada. The problem with such cross-national comparisons lies in the data itself. Varying police policies and procedures, coupled with differing definitions of crimes, makes comparing statistics difficult. The problem is compounded by the fact that not only do the two countries have differing procedures and definitions of crimes, but differences can also be found within the countries, making even nationwide comparisons problematic. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of making such cross-national comparisons in the case of the United States and Canada. Examinations were conducted of differences and similarities in the American Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey and the Canadian Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, as well as between the American National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the Canadian Incident-Based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR2). The assessment concluded that comparisons can be made for seven of the eight offenses, with six of these offenses requiring minor modifications for one or both countries to render them comparable. The seven comparable offenses are homicide, attempted murder/aggravated assault, robbery, breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The American offense of forcible rape could not be compared to the Canadian offense of sexual assault. Arrest data were more difficult to compare and only offenses with a one-to-one correspondence between the number of actual incidents and the number of incidents cleared by charge were appropriate for comparison. Only the three offenses of prostitution, impaired driving, and drug offenses were recommended as comparable at the charge level. As such, the study concludes that there are enough feasible comparisons between crime statistics in the United States and Canada to purse a comparison report in 2001-2002, which will make comparisons at the national, provincial/State, and municipal levels. Tables, references, appendix