The Mismeasure of Crime

Description

Filled with real world examples derived from media reports on crime trends and other sources, this fully updated Second Edition analyzes the specific errors that can occur in the three most common methods used to report crime―official crime data, self report, and victimization studies. For each method, the authors examine strengths and weaknesses, the fundamental issues surrounding accuracy, and the method′s application to theoretical and policy research. Throughout the book, the authors demonstrate the factors that underlie crime data and illustrate the fundamental links between theory, policy, and data measurement. Cover Brief Contents Detailed Contents Exhibits Acknowledgments Chapter 1 - Introduction: The Pervasiveness (and Limitations) of Measurement Chapter 2 - The History of Measuring Crime Chapter 3 - Official Crime Data Chapter 4 - Self-Report Studies Chapter 5 - Victimization Surveys Chapter 6 - Crime Patterns, Evaluating Crime Policies, and Criminological Theories References Index About the Authors