Chapter 2: Measuring Crime

Audio Links

- "FBI: Murders Up Nearly 11 Percent in 2015; Violent Crime Rose Slightly"
  Experts say homicides and other violence remain at low rates compared with a crime wave from 20 years ago.
- "Historians Mine 400 Years of Crime Data at the Old Bailey"
  Analyzing records from London's oldest criminal court reveals how Western society has viewed violent crime over time.

Video Clips

- Janet Lauritsen (1 of 3): What is the National Crime Victimization Survey?
  This short clip explains the process of the National Crime Victimization Survey and how the data are representative of the population.
- Crime Statistics: The Dark Figure
  This is a short video that looks at the so-called "dark figure" of crime-crimes that are committed in our society but which never appear in the official recorded crime statistics.
- What is a Hate Crime?
  An explanation of how a hate crime is defined is provided.
- Not there for your children? Gangs will be.
  This news clip interviews several gang members and how kids can easily be influenced into joining. Begin video at 30 seconds.
- Study Highlights a New Epidemic of Drug Abuse that is a Growing Problem Among US Teens
  A recent study published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing highlights an "epidemic" of prescription drug abuse among U.S. teens.

Websites

- Federal Bureau of Prisons-Inmate Statistics
  Contains regularly updated data about inmates of American prisons.
- Bureau of Justice Statistics Program Report-September 2014
  This report details the two measures of national crime: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program and the Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Victimization Survey.
- Crime in the United States
  A publication of the FBI explaining both the Uniform Crime Reporting Program and the National Crime Victimization Survey.
- Prison Overcrowding
  The Pew Research Center released data about the problem of prison overcrowding with supporting data.
- NIBRS
  This site displays publications reporting data for criminal occurrences, updated crime definitions, and statistical findings year by year from the FBI.
- Crime Mapping
  This article and included links on the page show an ongoing communication between law enforcement and the public about crime statistics and happenings in order to create a safer environment for everyone.