Crime Essay Outline Essay

Critically examine the methods utilize to measure crime in Australia. In your answer you should discuss the following How be crime statistics collected, collated and utilize? What are the strengths and weaknesses of official statistics versus unofficial statistics and alternative methods? How might these weaknesses be overcome?IntroductionBy measuring crime, accurate crime data can be employ for access the effectiveness of public policies, including the measurement of crime trends and the evaluation of crime control initiatives (Weatherburn 2011). This essay will discuss how crime statistics be utilize in Australia, the variances between official and unofficial statistics and the solutions of the weaknesses of official statistic. The definitions of concepts ex officio statistics- They are produced by government institutions such as police offence information systems and Australian Institute of Criminology.Unofficial statistics They are produced by people and agencies that are n ot involved in the criminal justices system.The methods used to measure crimeAccording to Addington (2010), the principal(prenominal) sources of crime data are crimes report from police, victim surveys and self-report surveys. Police recorded crime statisticEasy to conductIncluding information rough the nature of the recorded crime, location, time, what weapons were used etc. (Weatherburn 2011). Regionally and nationallyReliablePolice were trained under criminological backgroundPolice are experiencedVictim surveysMeasure the dim figure of crimeCrimes reported to an interviewer by the victimNationallyBased on sample of address (Block, C. R., Block R. L. 1984)Six index offensesRape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, and elevator car theft (Decker 1977) Self-report surveysRarely reported to policeExamples are illegal drug use and tax evasion (Weatherburn 2011)The advantagesOfficial statisticsAdministrative data such as data from state and Territory police forces, cour ts, hospitals, community services (Browyn 2004). Represent an official record of crimeUp-to-date information (Browyn 2004).Can be used for comparative purposes and deduction of crime trend.The limitationsOfficial statisticsNot all crimes committed are detectedNot all crimes committed are reportedAttitudes about the potential effectiveness of police in handing matters (Browyn 2004). Who are involved in an incident (Browyn 2004).The possible implication for victims (Browyn 2004).Not all crimes reported to police are recordedTechnical difficultiesA lack of sufficiently precise definitions for the phenomena to be measured (Security Publique Quebec 1993). A lack of uniformity or rigour in administrative practices used to compile the date (Security Publique Quebec 1993). Statistics only reflect the visible face of crime and do not make it possible to measure all the crimes perpetrated (Security Publique Quebec 1993). discriminating use of dataThe lag in reportingSolutionsEnsure independe nce (UK statistics Authority 2010)Public confidence as a targetA amplify that statistics needed to be at heart of policy-making and performance management Reinforce supervision on mediaThe media plays an important role in forming peoples views on official statists (UK statistics Authority 2010). The misreporting and under reporting apparently endemic in current statistic has led to their widespread devaluation (Skogan 1975) Prevent from abuse of official statistics conclusionOfficial statistics are more credible but need to overcome their weaknesses. There are two possible options which are ensuring independence and reinforcing supervision on media can be considered as solutions in this paper.ReferencesBlock, Carolyn R. , Block, Richard L. (1984) Crime definition, crime measurement, and Victim Surveys, Journal of Social issues, Vol. 40, No.1, pp 137-160 Browyn, H. (2004) measuring crime in Australia, crime in the community, chapter 4, pp 64-78 Decker, Scott H. (1977) Official crime rates and victim surveys an empirical comparison, Journal of flagitious Justice, Vol. 5, pp 47-54 Lynn A. Addington (2010) Measuring Crime, Oxford Available from Oxford Bibliographies 30 March 2014 Security Publique Quebec (1993) Partners in Crime legal profession For a Safer Quebec Report of the Task Force on crime prevention Skogan, W. G. (1975) Measurement problems in official and survey crime rates, Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol3, pp17-32 UK statistics Authority (2010) Overcoming Barriers to Trust in Crime Statistics England and Wales, Monitoring report 5 Weatherburn, D. (2011) Uses and abuses of crime statistics Crime and Justice Bulletin, no. 153