Criminology

Study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system.

What is Crime?Theories of Criminal BehaviorThe Criminal Justice System
Crime Statistics and Research MethodsJuvenile Justice and Youth CrimeVictims, Rights, and Restorative Justice
Crime Prevention in CommunitiesCareers in CriminologyUsing Technology to Fight Crime
Analyzing Case StudiesBuilding Arguments for EssaysEffective Revision Techniques
What is Crime?Theories of Criminal...The Criminal Justice...Crime Statistics and...Juvenile Justice and...Victims, Rights, and...Crime Prevention in ...Careers in Criminolo...Using Technology to ...Analyzing Case Studi...Building Arguments f...Effective Revision T...
Advanced Topics

Crime Statistics and Research Methods

Measuring Crime

Accurate crime statistics help us understand crime trends and make smart decisions about prevention and policy.

How is Crime Measured?

  • Official reports: Police records and government databases (like the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report).
  • Victim surveys: Asking people if they’ve experienced crime, even if unreported.
  • Self-report studies: Individuals anonymously report their own law-breaking.

Research Methods

Criminologists use surveys, interviews, and experiments to gather data and test theories.

Limitations

Not all crimes are reported or discovered, so statistics can be incomplete.

Examples

  • A city sees a rise in reported burglaries, but a victim survey reveals many more go unreported.

  • Researchers use self-report questionnaires to uncover underage drinking.

In a Nutshell

Crime stats and research methods inform policies but can miss hidden crime.

Key Terms

Victim survey
A study that asks people about their experiences with crime.
Self-report study
A research method where participants disclose their own criminal behavior.
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Juvenile Justice and Youth Crime