Week 3 – Extent of Crime and Victimization by Race/Ethnicity Questions

Which racial/ethnic group encompasses the majority of arrestees?

African Americans

Which two racial/ethnic groups have the highest rate of violent victimization (Not Hispanics or African Americans)?

Native Americans and those of two or more races.

When did the federal government begin collecting data on race and crime? What entity collected it?

In 1930 and it was collected by the FBI

What is the Uniform Crime Report (UCR)?

Crime index used by law enforcement to report crimes reported, cleared, persons arrested, and law enforcement personnel. Counts how many crimes were committed.

Is law enforcement participation in the UCR required or voluntary?

Voluntary

What percentage of law enforcement agencies participate in the UCR?

90%

What eight offenses make up the UCR’s Crime Index? What are the two categories that these eight offenses are divided into?

They are divided into:

• Violent crimes (Murder rape robbery and aggravated assault)

• Property crimes (burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft/larceny, arson).

What are the Supplemental Homicide Reports (SHR)?

Additional information on reported homicides by police agencies for the UCR. Where they publish this supplemental information.

What is the hierarchy rule?

Only reporting the most serious offense in a criminal offense

EX: burglary and a rape occurs only the rape will be reported

What is the biggest issue in tracking Latino arrests in the UCR, especially over time?

Hispanics were filtered in with Whites, then had their own category

What is National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)? When was it established?

What are some of the advantages of NIBRS over the UCR?

Collects 46 different types of crimes and it has no hierarchy rule. Helps to uncover the dark figure of crime.

What is the NCVS?

National crime victimization survey, it is a household survey of all residents 12 and over. Collects info from victims of nonfatal violent (personal victimization) crimes and property crimes (household victimization).

How does the NCVS collect its sample?

Household survey

In comparison to the UCR, what criminal offense does the NCVS NOT ask about?

Murder, homicide

How does the NCVS uncover those crimes NOT reported to the police?

It produces more complete records of crime and victimization that is not reported to the police.

What percent of violent victimizations are NOT reported to the police?

According to the NCVS, which crime type is least likely to be reported to the police? Which is most likely and why?

Sexual assault and rape

Why?

Embarrassment

Knowing the offender

Shame

What is the minimum age of respondents in the NCVS?

12

What are some limitations to the NCVS discussed during lecture?

Does not cover commercial crime, homeless people are not interviewed or people living in unstable environments, responses are susceptible to memory loss.

Which racial/ethnic group has the lowest rate of crime reporting? Which group has the highest?

Lowest rate of crime reporting is Asians and Highest rate of crime reporting is Blacks

How do scholars measure the accuracy of the UCR and NCVS?

What are self-report studies? When did they emerge?

Asking individuals about their previous criminal behavior, they emerged in the 1950’s.

What is the biggest finding from self-report studies?

That whites use drugs just as often as Blacks and Hispanics

What is the main issue with self-report studies?

It overrepresents minor offenses and underrepresents serious crimes

Are males or females more likely to be homicide victims?

Males

Are homicides more likely to be intraracial or interracial?

Intraracial

Do immigrants commit crimes at a higher or lower rate than natives?

They commit crimes at a lower rate than native born citizens

Among immigrants, are there differences in offending by race and ethnicity?

Yes, like the native-born, criminal involvement among immigrants varies by race (Black immigrants have the highest rates of offending, followed by Latino, White, and then Asian immigrants).

What is the main issue with examining crime/victimization among undocumented immigrants?

Lack of valid and reliable data on undocumented status.

How has immigration altered how we study race and crime?

It has made us include all types of races, and ethnicities in research not just white/black