Exam 2: The Nature and Extent of Crime

Explain how the NIBRS improves problems in UCR data.

Apparent increases in crime rates in the UCR may actually reflect changes in the way thepolice record their data.

Which region of the United States has the highest rates of property crimes and violent crimes

The National Crime Victimization Survey and the UCR are the only methods of crime datacollection used in the United States.

The racial threat hypothesis contends that young minority males are a greater threat thanyoung white males.

Briefly explain how the weather is thought to influence violent and property offenses.

Which view of crime contends that there are moral entrepreneurs who want to control behaviorsthey view as immoral or wrong

Explain the three primary reasons why UCR data is suspect.

CASE 2.1 Your local police department is concerned with this year's most recent crime statistics. The police chief meets with city officials and his higher-ranking police personnel. They meet to discuss potential policies and procedures in order to reduce the crime rates in their city. -One improvement that pleases the police chief is that over 45% of all of the cities' Part I crimeshave resulted in arrest. When an offender is arrested and charged with a crime the offense isconsidered:

Arrests and court appearances have been shown to be deterrents to chronic offending.

The ____________ view of crime maintains that criminal law is created and enforced by thosewho hold political and economic power.

_____________ crimes include offenses such as selling narcotics to obtain access to goods andservices that are otherwise unobtainable.

Which view of crime contends that the definition of crime is subjective

Discuss the three approaches to defining crime.

Marijuana is the current drug of choice of most high school seniors.

In which season do the greatest numbers of reported crimes occur

__________________ involves the criminal activity of people and organizations whoseacknowledged purpose is economic gain through illegal enterprises.

CASE 2.3 Mary, a student at a community college in New York, is in the United States on a student visa that allows her to remain in the United States until she obtains her master's degree in biology. She is considering returning to her home country because she is concerned with the increase in crime at her college and in the surrounding area. Mary attempts to find information on the crime rates in her hometown to compare to those in the city where she currently attends college. -Mary was a crime victim once in the three years that she has been in the United States. Afemale acquaintance assaulted Mary while Mary was out celebrating her birthday at a local barwith some friends. The offender was drunk and became agitated when she thought that Maryhad taken her seat. With regard to female criminality, all of the following are true except:

The Monitoring the Future study is one of the most important sources of self-report data withregard to drugs.

CASE 2.3 Mary, a student at a community college in New York, is in the United States on a student visa that allows her to remain in the United States until she obtains her master's degree in biology. She is considering returning to her home country because she is concerned with the increase in crime at her college and in the surrounding area. Mary attempts to find information on the crime rates in her hometown to compare to those in the city where she currently attends college. -Why will it be difficult for Mary to compare the crime rates in a U.S. city with her hometownof London, England