Summary:
Discusses the problem of escalating crime. Considers three sources of crime statistics, the media, the BJS document and FBI statistics.
Crime is an action harmful to another person and/or to society and made punishable by law. It is something that takes place every second of every minute of everyday. It is happening all around us. That's why it is important to know what is going on in our community and in our world. For this, we rely on three major sources of information. (Wrobleski and Hess, 2003, p.65)
Our first source is media. Much of what we know and hear about crime comes from local television news. Though it may dramatize and cloud the extent or seriousness of the situation, it continues to be the leading method in which we gather our information. According to Gest (2001), "Crime policy has evolved since the 1960's and contends the media to have contributed to the failure of federal and state crime programs by headlining lurid crimes that simultaneously panic the public and encourage politicians to offer another round of quick solutions." Consequently, not always making the right decision (pp.65).
Statistics are also a major source of crime information. Today, the FBI serves as a national clearinghouse for all crime that occurs around the world thanks to the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR). According to Wrobleski and Hess, "The UCR divides offenses
into two major categories: Part I and Part II index crimes, with part I crimes being those that are most serious in either their use of violence or the value of the property involved." Part I being crimes being murder, aggravated assault causing serious bodily harm, rape, robbery, burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. (pp.65-66)
Our third and final source is compiled every two years. The BJS document (Report to the nation on crime and Justice), brings together a broad range of data from their own stats, FBI crime reports, the Bureau of the Census, the national Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and many other research and reference sources. According to Hess, " The report presents national data on crime and the criminal justice system and answers questions such as how much Crime is there? Who does it strike? When? Who is the typical offender? What is the government's response to crime"" Basically, every question you can think of about crime and how it has affected us within the past couple of years. (pp-70)
No matter how you put it, the need for crime to be recorded or broadcasted is very important. It lets us know what's going on in the world. It gives us first hand, how we are as a society and a human race"
Reference: Wrobleski, Henry M. and Hess Karen M. Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal justice, 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Thompson/Wadsworth. 2003
This is the complete article, containing 446 words
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