Deck 4: Crime in the Streets—Against the Person

Question 1

In what ways are the UCR and the NCVS crime statistics the same and in what ways do they differ?

Answer 1

The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) are both methods used to collect and analyze crime statistics in the United States. However, they differ in their approach and the type of data they collect.

One way in which the UCR and NCVS are similar is that they both aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of crime in the United States. They both collect data on various types of crimes, including violent crimes, property crimes, and other offenses. Additionally, they both provide valuable information for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and researchers to understand crime trends and patterns.

However, the UCR and NCVS differ in several key ways. The UCR is based on data reported by law enforcement agencies, while the NCVS is based on surveys of households and individuals. This means that the UCR may not capture all crimes, as not all crimes are reported to law enforcement. On the other hand, the NCVS may capture a broader range of crimes, including those that are not reported to the police.

Another difference is that the UCR focuses on reported crimes and arrests, while the NCVS focuses on the experiences and perceptions of crime victims. This means that the UCR may provide a more accurate picture of crime trends and patterns, while the NCVS may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of crime on individuals and communities.

In conclusion, while the UCR and NCVS both aim to provide valuable insights into crime in the United States, they differ in their approach and the type of data they collect. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each method is important for gaining a comprehensive understanding of crime in the United States.

Question 2

How will the NIBRS change the UCR?

Answer 2

The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is set to replace the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program as the standard for crime data collection by law enforcement agencies in the United States. The transition from UCR to NIBRS will bring several significant changes to how crime data is collected, reported, and analyzed. Here are some of the key ways in which NIBRS will change the UCR:

1. **Incident-Based Reporting**: Unlike the UCR, which summarizes crime data into broad categories, NIBRS collects detailed information about individual crime incidents. This includes data on each offense within a single incident, providing a more comprehensive picture of crime events.

2. **Expanded Crime Categories**: NIBRS includes more crime categories than the UCR's Summary Reporting System (SRS). It captures 52 offense categories covering 24 crime groups, as opposed to the SRS's limited number of Part I and Part II offenses. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of crime patterns.

3. **Greater Detail**: NIBRS gathers details on each incident, including the characteristics of victims and offenders, relationships between them, location and time of the crime, and types of weapons used. This level of detail surpasses the aggregate data collected in the UCR.

4. **No Hierarchy Rule**: The UCR's hierarchy rule requires that only the most serious offense in a multi-offense incident be reported. NIBRS, however, reports all offenses within a single incident, providing a fuller account of crime.

5. **Attempted vs. Completed Crimes**: NIBRS distinguishes between attempted and completed crimes, whereas the UCR counts both as completed offenses. This distinction can affect crime statistics and trends.

6. **Improved Accuracy and Timeliness**: With more detailed reporting, NIBRS aims to provide more accurate and timely crime data. This can improve the responsiveness of law enforcement and policymakers to emerging crime trends.

7. **Data-Driven Policing and Policy**: The richer data set provided by NIBRS can inform more effective policing strategies and public policy decisions. It allows for better resource allocation, crime prevention, and intervention strategies.

8. **Enhanced Research Opportunities**: Researchers will have access to a more detailed and comprehensive crime data set, which can lead to improved criminological research and a better understanding of the factors contributing to crime.

9. **Public Transparency**: The detailed data available through NIBRS can enhance public transparency and trust in law enforcement by providing a clearer picture of crime in communities.

The transition to NIBRS is a significant undertaking for law enforcement agencies, requiring updates to data collection processes and systems. The FBI has set a goal for agencies to complete the transition to NIBRS reporting to improve the overall quality of crime data in the United States. As agencies adapt to this new system, the way crime statistics are reported and analyzed will evolve, potentially leading to more informed approaches to crime prevention and law enforcement.

Question 3

According to statistics and sociological research what are the facts associated with 'ordinary murder.'

Answer 3

According to statistics and sociological research, there are several facts associated with "ordinary murder." These include the following:

1. Demographics: Research has shown that the majority of murder victims and perpetrators are young males, typically between the ages of 15 and 34. Additionally, the majority of murders occur within the same racial or ethnic group.

2. Motives: Common motives for ordinary murder include arguments, disputes, and conflicts that escalate into violence. Other motives may include jealousy, revenge, or financial gain.

3. Location: Most murders occur in urban areas, particularly in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and crime. Factors such as drug activity and gang violence can also contribute to higher murder rates in certain areas.

4. Relationship to the victim: In many cases of ordinary murder, the perpetrator and victim are known to each other, often as acquaintances, friends, or family members. This is in contrast to stranger murders, which are less common.

5. Weapon use: Firearms are the most common weapon used in ordinary murders, followed by knives and other sharp objects. The availability of firearms has been linked to higher rates of lethal violence.

6. Impact on communities: Ordinary murders can have a significant impact on the communities where they occur, leading to fear, distrust, and a sense of insecurity among residents. This can also have long-term effects on the social fabric and well-being of the community.

Overall, these facts highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of ordinary murder, and the need for comprehensive approaches to addressing the underlying social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to violence.

Question 4

What are the facts associated with forcible rape?

Question 5

What supports the view that violence may be an American value?

Question 6

What are the NRA's arguments against gun control? What factors limit legislation regulating guns?

Question 7

Approximately 40 percent of Americans were "very fearful" or "somewhat fearful" of being a victim violent crime in the 1990s.

Question 8

The UCR accurately measures the amount of criminal activity.

Question 9

The NCVS measures changes in reported victimization, while the UCR measures changes in police recording efficiency.

Question 10

The UCR reports eight offenses known as index crimes: murder, aggravated assault, forcible rape, robbery, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

Question 11

The murder rate is declining steadily.

Question 12

Murder is disproportionately high among young, lower-status, non-white males.

Question 13

According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics report on jail inmates, 22 percent of those convicted for homicide were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense.

Question 14

Our general culture provides values that support violence as a means of solving problems, these values, in turn, support subcultural values that permit or even encourage physical aggression to solve interpersonal conflicts.

Question 15

Those who oppose gun control laws generally stress three points: Gun control is unconstitutional, guns don't kill people - people kill people, and when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

Question 16

Only about a quarter of the victims of forcible rape report the incident to police.

Question 17

Rape is disproportionately high among young, lower-status whites.

Question 18

Most rapes are planned, not spontaneous, offenses.

Question 19

General cultural values supporting violence, values supporting the male as sexual aggressor, image of some women as legitimate victims, and situations conducive to rape (along with alcohol) are all components contributing to rape.

Question 20

According to feminists, the purpose of rape is to restrict the freedom of women and to ensure that they remain dependent on men for protection.

Question 21

The _________________ presents crime statistics collected from law enforcement agencies nationwide that represent 245 million persons, or 97 percent of the total population.

Question 22

_____________________ estimates the amount of criminal victimization nationally.

Question 23

Most murders are committed by ____________.

Question 24

Almost ________ of homicide victims were shot to death.

Question 25

The _________ definition of forcible rape acknowledges the reality that males are victimized.

Question 26

_____ of 1,000 males are victims of forcible sexual intercourse by other males annually.

Question 27

Studies on the public fear of crime indicate that people are most concerned over:

A) violence by organized crime
B) corruption by government
C) violent street crime
D) police corruption
E) crimes by big business

Question 28

"Crimes Known to Police" are the basis of the:

A) American Police Department Survey
B) Uniform Crime Reports
C) National Street Crime Census
D) National Crime Survey
E) Cumulated Index of Offenses

Question 29

Which of the following is not an index crime?

A) murder
B) motor vehicle theft
C) narcotic law violations
D) larceny-theft
E) arson

Question 30

According to your text, the Uniform Crime Reports:

A) are a measure of police activity with known crimes
B) accurately measure changes in true crime rates
C) are based on victimization surveys
D) b and c above
E) none of the above

Question 31

The National Crime Victimization Survey is based on:

A) interviews with a sample of households
B) statistics from selected police records
C) FBI statistics
D) a sample of police departments annual reports
E) annual interviews with law enforcement officials

Question 32

One weakness of homicide statistics is:

A) that most homicides are committed by unapprehended strangers
B) that most homicides apparently remain undiscovered
C) that most homicides are carefully planned to avoid discovering the offender
D) that many coroners are unqualified to determine cause of death
E) b and c above

Question 33

It appears that the murder rate in the U.S. is:

A) rising
B) steady
C) fluctuating widely year to year
D) declining

Question 34

The likelihood of being a victim of homicide is disproportionately highest among:

A) young, middle status, white females
B) middle-aged, lower status, non-white males
C) young, lower status, none white females
D) middle-aged, lower status, white males
E) none of the above

Question 35

Which of the following characterizes the typical homicide?

A) offender and victim are acquainted
B) the offenses occur during the course of arguments
C) alcohol is present in one or both of the participants
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 36

"Victim precipitated homicide" is a concept referring to the contribution of the victim's:

A) own violent behavior
B) ignorance of imminent danger
C) failure to withdraw from a dangerous situation
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 37

According to your text, violence as an American value is indicated by:

A) a history of labor- management violence
B) long-standing family feuds and racial violence
C) the frontier tradition
D) organized crime
E) all of the above

Question 38

Lynch mobs and vigilante groups on the American frontier resulted from:

A) The American Frontier Personality
B) an isolation from formal law and justice
C) the extreme violence with which American Indians resisted settlers
D) the ethnic backgrounds of many early settlers
E) none of the above

Question 39

The concept "subculture of violence" refers to values that support the use of violence:

A) to solve interpersonal conflicts
B) to obtain money or goods when they are desperately needed
C) against another race, ethnic group, or religious group
D) in vigilante and lynch groups
E) for political purposes

Question 40

Approximately ___________ of American homicide victims are shot to death.

A) 15%
B) 40%
C) 60%
D) 90%

Question 41

Public opinion surveys on gun control have consistently shown that most Americans are:

A) in favor of more strict gun regulation
B) indifferent to whether gun regulation is changed
C) opposed to more strict gun regulation
D) none of the above

Question 42

According to your text, stricter federal legislation concerning guns is unlikely because of:

A) strong lobbying by pro-gun forces
B) the decreasing homicide rate
C) the lack of evidence that gun control reduces violence
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 43

One lesson of the gun control controversy is:

A) the difficulty of trying to combat public ignorance
B) that public sentiment is a powerful force for obtaining or forestalling legislation
C) that without guns both lethal and non-lethal violence would decrease
D) the importance of efficient lobbying power on the legislative process
E) a and b above

Question 44

According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, approximately what proportion of forcible rapes are reported to police?

A) a tenth
B) a quarter
C) half
D) three quarters

Question 45

Police list forcible rapes as "unfounded" primarily because:

A) they doubt the rape took place
B) they doubt that the offender can be located
C) they doubt that the victim will testify against the offender
D) they doubt that a conviction can be obtained

Question 46

According to the National Crime Survey Victimization rates of forcible rape have, since the 1970s:

A) risen dramatically
B) risen gradually
C) remained steady
D) declined gradually
E) declined dramatically

Question 47

According to the best available data, which of the following is true?

A) the majority of forcible rapes are committed by strangers
B) most forcible rapes are planned
C) alcohol is associated with a large proportion of forcible rapes
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 48

Studies on _________ indicate that rates of sexual violence may be high within the middle class.

A) the Uniform Crime Reports arrest statistics
B) the National Crime Victimization Survey arrest statistics
C) date rapes
D) prison rapes

Question 49

Rapes in jails and prisons appear to be motivated by:

A) pent-up sexual frustrations
B) the desire to subjugate and degrade the victims
C) anger against society in general and the legal system in particular
D) revenge for homosexual approaches
E) none of the above

Question 50

According to the feminist perspective, rape is an act:

A) of sexual frustration
B) of terrorism
C) of vengeance
D) of a feeling of inferiority