These quick exercises provide an opportunity for students to interact with the local community and to continue research of topics discussed throughout the chapter. 

1. Investigate the two official sources of U.S. crime data: the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. On both sites, search and compare information for one type of crime (e.g., homicide, property crime, rape).

2. The debate about gun control has two vocal sides: those advocating for gun control and those supporting the right to own guns. Investigate local or national organizations on both sides of this issue. You can start by visiting the following sites: the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the March for Our Lives, and the National Rifle Association. How do these organizations define the problem of handgun violence? How does each side identify the pros and cons of gun control? What solutions does each side offer?

3. Do your local police support the National Night Out program? Contact the local police station to learn more about the program and other community policing efforts in your city. What community programs are implemented? What residents or social groups are police attempting to reach? To learn more about the program, visit the National Association of Town Watch, the sponsor of the program. The website includes links to selected city and state programs.

4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime annually collects data on crime and criminal justice from national government sources and international and regional agencies. Data are compiled for more than 100 countries and member states.