Exam 2: Theory and Policy in Context

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The "Ferguson Effect" refers to the theory that increased scrutiny and criticism of law enforcement following high-profile incidents of police brutality, such as the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has led to a decrease in proactive policing and a subsequent increase in crime rates.

This theory suggests that police officers, fearing public backlash or legal repercussions, have become less willing to engage in proactive policing tactics, such as stop-and-frisk or aggressive enforcement of low-level offenses. As a result, criminals may feel emboldened to commit more crimes, knowing that law enforcement may be less likely to intervene.

The "Ferguson Effect" has been cited as a potential contributing factor to the rise in crime rates in some cities across the US. However, it is important to note that the relationship between police behavior and crime rates is complex and multifaceted, and the "Ferguson Effect" is just one of many potential factors influencing crime trends. Additionally, there is ongoing debate and research about the extent to which the "Ferguson Effect" has actually impacted crime rates.

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The three main data sources discussed in the text for studying the rate of drug use among high-school students are the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).

The UCR is a valuable data source for studying drug use among high-school students because it provides information on drug-related arrests and offenses. This can give researchers an idea of the extent of drug-related criminal activity in the community. However, the UCR may not capture all instances of drug use among high-school students, as not all drug-related incidents result in arrests or are reported to law enforcement.

The NIBRS, on the other hand, provides more detailed information on drug-related incidents, including the types of drugs involved and the characteristics of the offenders. This can be useful for understanding the specific patterns and trends of drug use among high-school students. However, the NIBRS may still not capture all instances of drug use, as not all incidents are reported to law enforcement.

The NCVS is a valuable data source for studying drug use among high-school students because it provides information on self-reported victimization, including drug-related victimization. This can give researchers insight into the prevalence of drug-related incidents that may not have been reported to law enforcement. However, the NCVS relies on self-reporting, which may introduce bias and inaccuracies in the data.

In conclusion, each of these data sources has its own benefits and drawbacks for studying the rate of drug use among high-school students. Researchers may need to consider using multiple data sources and triangulating the information to get a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.