NCJ Number
148021
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 3-21
Date Published
1994
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article outlines the methodological problems that rap sheet data may introduce to criminological research; the study focuses on the adequacy of official criminal history data for estimating an individual's criminal activity.
Abstract
The analysis, using a database of New Orleans offenders' rap sheets, revealed gross distortions of the effects of variables related to geographic mobility, including race and age. Additional evidence indicates that false-negative error is a serious methodological problem, particularly in fingerprint-based record systems. Researchers frequently misinterpret arrest records by failing to identify multievent arrests, misclassifying arrests, and treating arrest or custody process events as crimes indicating criminal activity of the individual while free. Some of the solutions suggested here include merging multiple official databases, merging court and corrections databases with arrest databases, actively searching for duplication within databases, and consistently counting correctional process charges. 6 tables and 10 references