NCJ Number
152269
Date Published
1994
Length
168 pages
Annotation
This collection reprints presentations given at a crime statistics conference of North European countries (Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland), which took place in Aulanko, Finland, April 19-21, 1993.
Abstract
The presentations focused on three major topics: the usefulness of statistics, their reliability, and the challenges facing statisticians in a united Europe. Although national statistical institutes often rank crime statistics as low priority, they are valuable tools in preventing crimes, determining crime trends, and allocating resources to criminal justice systems. As to reliability, the presenters agreed that official crime statistics do not furnish an accurate picture of criminality because many crimes are never reported or investigated. Consequently, victim surveys which originated in the 1960's provide a useful supplement to police statistics. The new Europe without borders will encourage new forms of crime and make new demands on crime statistics: statistical coordination among the member countries, greater numbers of variables, and improved quality control. Advanced computer technology and the ongoing cooperation projects within the European Council and the European Union will further this important work.