NCJ Number
16072
Journal
American Criminal Law Review Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1973) Pages: 1045-1086
Date Published
1973
Length
42 pages
Annotation
CAUSES FOR DISTORTION IN THE STATISTICS OF THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORT ARE DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MORE ACCURATE AND USEFUL REPORTING ARE OFFERRED.
Abstract
POLICE DISCRETION AND VICTIM DISCRETION IN REPORTING CRIME ARE CONSIDERED SOURCES OF INACCURACY IN CONSTRUCTING STATISTICAL CRIME RECORDS. POLITICAL PRESSURE AND FUNDING PRESSURES TO SHOW POLICE EFFECTIVENESS BY DECREASING CRIME RATES IS SAID TO ENCOURAGE THE POLICE PRACTICE OF NOT RECORDING CERTAIN CRIMES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THOSE IN POSITIONS OF POLITICAL INFLUENCE AND WITH THE POWER TO FUND POLICE OPERATIONS USE A MORE REALISTIC AND RELIABLE METHOD FOR EVALUATING POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN ORDER THAT OFFICERS WILL FEEL FREE TO BE FRANK AND ACCURATE IN CRIME REPORTING. A STUDY OF THE ADEQUACY OF THE CRIME INDEX AS A MEASURE OF THE REAL CRIME RATE IS URGED. DEFINITE POLICY GUIDELINES FOR POLICE REPORTING STRESSED AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL IS CONSIDERED THE FOUNDATIONAL STEP FOR IMPROVED ACCURACY IN THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORT.