CRM 101 Chapter 3 - The Nature and Extent of Crime

What is official crime data in Canada primarily collected through?

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey, managed by Statistics Canada and the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey

A standardized system for collecting police-reported crime data across Canada, allowing comparisons between jurisdictions and over time.

Crime rate

The number of reported crimes per 100,000 population, used to compare across regions and periods.

Crime severity index (CSI)

A measure introduced to give more weight to serious crimes, reflecting both volume and seriousness of offenses.

Victimization surveys

Surveys asking individuals about experiences with crime, whether reported to police or not; reveal the “dark figure” of crime.

Self-report surveys

Anonymous surveys where respondents disclose their own criminal or delinquent behavior, often used to study youth offending.

Dark figure of crime

The amount of crime not reported to or recorded by the police

Clearance rate

The proportion of reported crimes that are solved by police through charges or other means.

Instrumental crimes

Offenses committed for material gain, e.g., theft, burglary.

Expressive crimes

Offenses motivated by emotion or conflict, e.g., assaults, murders.

Why might UCR data underrepresent the actual amount of crime?

Many crimes go unreported due to fear, mistrust, shame, or belief the police can’t help.

What does victimization data reveal about crime patterns?

Victimization surveys show higher levels of crime than official statistics, especially for minor assaults and theft.

What types of crime are most likely to be underreported?

Sexual assaults, domestic violence, and minor property crimes.

How does the CSI differ from the traditional crime rate?

CSI accounts for the seriousness of crimes, not just frequency; serious crimes affect the index more heavily.

Why are self-report surveys valuable for criminological research?

They uncover hidden patterns of offending, especially among youth, and help study correlates of delinquency.

What factors can affect crime reporting rates?

Victim-offender relationship, seriousness of the crime, police-community relations, and cultural attitudes.

What general trend has Canada experienced in crime rates since the early 1990s?

A significant decline in both violent and property crime rates, continuing into the 2020s

Which age group is most likely to commit crime?

Adolescents and young adults (15–24), particularly for property and violent offenses.

Which gender commits more crime overall?

Males, especially for serious violent and property offenses; females are more involved in minor property and fraud-related crimes.

How does victimization vary by gender?

Men more often victimized by strangers in public places; women more often victimized in private spaces, often by acquaintances or partners.

What is the relationship between socioeconomic status and victimization?

Lower-income individuals experience higher rates of victimization, often due to neighborhood factors.

When are crimes most likely to occur?

Evenings and weekends, aligning with social activity patterns.

What is the “ecology of crime”?

The study of how crime patterns relate to time, place, and environmental factors (e.g., more crime in summer, urban areas).

Why is it important to use multiple data sources (UCR, victimization, self-report)?

Each captures different aspects of crime; together they provide a more complete picture.

How can clearance rates misrepresent police effectiveness?

Some crimes are more easily solved than others (e.g., homicide vs. theft), and methods of “clearing” can vary

What role does technology play in measuring crime today?

It improves reporting, data collection, and analysis but also introduces new crime types (e.g., cybercrime).