NCJ Number
54060
Date Published
1975
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THE RELIABILITY OF CRIME STATISTICS IN THE NETHERLANDS IS EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE IMPORTANT OF VICTIM STUDIES TO RESEARCH IN CRIME DEVELOPMENT.
Abstract
THE BUREAU FOR VITAL STATISTICS (CBS) IN THE NETHERLANDS COLLECTS ITS DATA ON CRIMES THROUGH THE REGISTERED REPORTS OF CRIMINAL ACTS BY THE POLICE. THROUGH VICTIM STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IT WAS ESTABLISHED THAT MANY CRIMES ARE NEVER REPORTED TO THE POLICE, THE MAJOR REASONS FOR WHICH WERE (1) THE STOLEN OBJECT DID NOT HAVE MUCH VALUE, AND (2) THE POLICE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ANYWAY. BECAUSE SO MANY CRIMES REMAINED UNREPORTED, THE CRIME STATISTICS OF THE CBS COULD NOT BE USED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OR DEVELOPMENT OF CRIME. THESE STATISTICS WERE ABLE, HOWEVER, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE WORKLOAD OF POLICE OFFICERS AND ON VICTIMLESS CRIMES SUCH AS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF DRUGS. IN THE INSTANCE OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES STATISTICS COULD INDICATE HOW ACTIVE THE POLICE WERE IN TRACING DOWN VIOLATIONS. IN COMBINATION WITH THE VICTIM STUDIES CBS STATISTICS COULD DETERMINE THE WILLINGNESS OF THE VICTIM TO REPORT A CRIME AND THE EXTENT OF HIDDEN CRIMINALITY. THEY COULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC IN THE POLICE, MAKE CORRECTIONS IN THE PERCENTAGES OF SOLVED CASE, AND PROVIDE AN INSIGHT INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICIES MADE BY THE POLICE IN SOLVING CRIMES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED--IN DUTCH. (WVK)