Crime Data, Reporting & Theoretical Frameworks

Assignment Guidelines

• Citations and Formatting:
  • APA format is generally ideal for citations and cover pages in academia.
  • Always cite sources for any assignment in any academic classroom, even for reflection papers, as assignments require supporting evidence for ideas, not just personal feelings.
  • Assignments are designed to test understanding of class concepts and assigned readings; therefore, citing readings and concepts is expected.
• Assignment Content:
  • Find a story related to policy (e.g., news from California) or primary data.
• Formatting Requirements:
  • Length: $2$ to $3$ pages.
  • Spacing: Double-spaced.
  • Font: $12$
  • Margins: $1$ inch.
• Late Policy:
  • A grace period is outlined in the syllabus for late submissions.

Review: Data Collection and Reporting

• Previous Class Discussion: Focused on how information is collected and different types of data.
• Official Data Sources:
  • Department of Justice (DOJ).
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
  • The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) dataset, which primarily includes reported crimes.
• The "Dark Figure" of Crime:
  • Refers to unreported data, which is not captured by official reporting mechanisms like the UCR.
• National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS):
  • Purpose: Created to complement official data and provide a better understanding of crime, specifically by capturing unreported incidents.
  • Methodology: Utilizes a survey instrument where individuals are asked about their experiences with crime.
  • Distinction from UCR: The NCVS offers a victim's perspective on crime.
  • Underreported Crimes: Rape and sexual assault are among the most underreported crimes. The NCVS is a crucial tool for researchers interested in these topics.
  • Limitations:
    • Like all surveys, the NCVS has limitations.
    • Respondents may unintentionally forget certain details or recollect events differently due to the passage of time.
    • While this does not diminish their experience, it can affect the $100\%$
      accuracy of recalled information if a significant amount of time has passed since the event.
• Campus Crime Reporting:
  • Requirements: All college campuses are mandated to collect and report information on campus crime.
  • Relevant Acts: The discussion briefly mentions Title IX and Title VI (the speaker corrects to Title IX and states they will elaborate later), which are pertinent to ensuring campus safety and addressing sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and assault.
  • Campus Police Role: Entities like the California State University Fullerton Police Department (CSUF PD) handle reporting campus incidents.
  • Reporting Procedures: Conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment can be reported in person, by mail, telephone, or electronic mail using provided contact information. This reporting mechanism is not limited to incidents occurring exclusively on campus.

Understanding Crime: Theoretical Frameworks

• The Role of Theories:
  • Theories help us understand crime, similar to how we develop theories to understand the economy.
  • Not all theories are definitively proven